PC Guide- Ultimate PC maintenance Ebook

Following are the topics covered in this PC maintenance ebook.

1. Introduction to the PC
   How the PC Works
   The Computer's Primary Jobs
   How the Computer Computes
   Example: What Happens When You Press A Key
   Overview of Systems and Components
   PC Fundamentals
   Binary vs. Decimal Measurements
   Basic Electrical Components
   Jumpers
   Signaling, Clocks and Synchronous Data Transfer
2. Systems and Components Reference Guide
   System Case
   Parts of the System Case
   Styles and Sizes
   Form Factors
   Case Switches
   Case LEDs
   Drive Bays
   Power
   External Power
   Electrical Power Basics
   External Power Problems
   Protection Against Power Problems
   Uninterruptible Power Supplies
   Uninterruptible Power Supply Overview
   Uninterruptible Power Supply Types
   Parts of the Uninterruptible Power Supply
   Uninterruptible Power Supply Functions and Features
   Comparison of Power Protection Methods
   The Power Supply
   Power Supply Functions and Signals
   Parts of the Power Supply
   Power Supply Form Factors
   Power Supply Output and Ratings
   Power Supply Specifications and Certifications
   Motherboard and System Devices
   The Motherboard
   Motherboard Form Factors
   Parts of the Motherboard
   Motherboard Integrated Components
   System Chipset and Controllers
   Chipset Functions and Features
   Chipset Processor Support
   Chipset Cache Support
   Chipset Memory Support
   Chipset Timing and Flow Control
   Chipset Peripheral and I/O Bus Control
   Chipset Power Management Support
   Popular Chipsets
   Fourth Generation (486 Class) Chipsets
   Fifth Generation (Pentium Class) Intel Chipsets
   Fifth Generation (Pentium Class) Non-Intel Chipsets
   Sixth Generation (Pentium Pro / Pentium II Class) Chipsets
   Keyboard Controller Functions
   Super I/O Controller Functions
   Additional Integrated Motherboard Functions
   System Buses
   System Bus Functions and Features
   System Bus Types
   Older Bus Types
   Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Local Bus
   Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)
   System BIOS
   System BIOS Functions and Operation
   BIOS System Boot Operations
   BIOS Components and Features
   BIOS Setup Program
   BIOS Settings
   Standard Settings
   Advanced Features
   Advanced Chipset Features
   PCI / PnP Configuration
   Power Management
   Integrated Peripherals
   IDE Device Setup / Autodetection
   Security / Password Settings
   Hardware Device Settings / ("CPU Soft Menu")
   Auto Configuration and Defaults
   Exit Setup
   System Cache
   Role of Cache in the PC
   "Layers" of Cache
   Function and Operation of the System Cache
   Cache Characteristics
   Cache Transfer Technologies and Timing
   Cache Structure and Packaging
   System Resources
   Interrupts (IRQs)
   Interrupt Function and Operation
   IRQ Details By Number
   Direct Memory Access (DMA) Channels
   DMA Channel Function and Operation
   DMA Channel Details By Number
   Input / Output (I/O) Addresses
   Logical Devices
   Memory Addresses and Device BIOSes
   System Configuration
   Resource Conflicts and Conflict Resolution
   Plug and Play
   The Processor
   Roots of the Processor: Digital Logic and the Semiconductor
   Processor Physical Characteristics
   Processor Manufacturing
   Physical Chip Characteristics
   Processor Power and Voltage
   Processor Cooling
   Processor Packaging
   Processor Sockets and Slots
   Processor Architecture and Operation
   External Processor Interfaces and Operation
   Internal Processor Architecture and Operation
   Processor Instruction Sets
   Processor Modes
   Internal Architectural Components
   Instruction Execution Process
   Performance Enhancing Architectural Features
   Processor Performance
   Processor Families
   Explanation of Processor Summary Tables
   First Generation Processors
   Second Generation Processors
   Third Generation Processors
   Fourth Generation Processors
   Fifth Generation Processors
   Sixth Generation Processors
   System Memory
   Memory Technology Types
   Memory Speed, Access and Timing
   DRAM Technologies
   Memory Size
   Memory Packaging
   Memory Errors, Detection and Correction
   Logical Memory Layout
   Video Cards
   Video Card Overview
   Video System Interfaces
   Video Modes, Resolution and Color
   Video Memory Function and Speed
   Video Memory Technologies
   Video Display Standards
   3D Video Acceleration
   Full-Motion Video
   Video Card Performance
   Monitors
   Monitor Construction and Operation
   Monitor Resolution, Color and Refresh
   Monitor Size
   CRT Characteristics
   Monitor Power and Safety
   Hard Disk Drives
   A Brief History of the Hard Disk Drive
   Construction and Operation of the Hard Disk Drive
   Hard Disk Operational Overview
   Hard Disk Platters and Media
   Hard Disk Read/Write Heads
   Read/Write Head Operation
   Read/Write Head Technologies
   Hard Disk Head Sliders, Arms and Actuator
   Hard Disk Spindle Motor
   Hard Disk Connectors and Jumpers
   Hard Disk Logic Board
   Hard Disk Cache and Cache Circuitry
   Hard Disk Form Factors
   Hard Disk Packaging and Mounting
   Hard Disk Geometry and Low-Level Data Structures
   Data Encoding and Decoding
   Tracks, Cylinders and Sectors
   Formatting and Capacity
   Geometry Specifications and Translation
   Error Management and Recovery
   Hard Disk Performance, Quality and Reliability
   Hard Disk Performance
   Hard Disk General Performance Issues
   Hard Disk Performance Measurement
   Hard Disk Performance Specifications
   General Notes On Performance Specifications
   Positioning Plus Transfer Performance Specifications
   Positioning Performance Specifications
   Transfer Performance Specifications
   Other Performance Specifications
   Hard Disk Internal Performance Factors
   Mechanical Design Factors
   Data Recording and Encoding Factors
   Controller and Cache Factors
   Hard Disk External Performance Factors
   Disk Interface Factors
   PC System Factors
   File System Factors
   Hard Disk Quality and Reliability
   Hard Disk Quality and Reliability Specifications
   Hard Disk Quality and Reliability Issues
   Hard Disk Quality and Reliability Features
   Hard Disk Warranty and Disaster Recovery Issues
   Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)
   Why Use RAID? Benefits and Costs, Tradeoffs and Limitations
   RAID Concepts and Issues
   General RAID Concepts
   RAID Performance Issues
   RAID Reliability Issues
   RAID Levels
   Technical Factors Differentiating RAID Levels
   Single RAID Levels
   Multiple (Nested) RAID Levels
   "Just A Bunch Of Disks"
   Summary Comparison of RAID Levels
   RAID Configuration and Implementation
   RAID Controllers and Controller Features
   RAID Hard Disk Drive Requirements
   RAID Management
   Advanced RAID Features
   Hard Disk BIOS and Capacity Factors
   BIOS and the Hard Disk
   Hard Disk Size Barriers
   BIOS Translation Modes
   Overcoming BIOS Disk Size Barriers
   Hard Disk Interfaces and Configuration
   Hard Disk General Interface Factors
   Obsolete Hard Disk Interfaces
   Specialty and Future Hard Disk Interfaces
   Integrated Drive Electronics / AT Attachment (IDE/ATA) Interface
   Overview and History of the IDE/ATA Interface
   Official IDE/ATA Standards and Feature Sets
   Unofficial IDE/ATA Standards and Marketing Programs
   IDE/ATA Transfer Modes and Protocols
   IDE/ATA Configuration and Cabling
   Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI)
   Overview and History of the SCSI Interface
   SCSI Standards
   SCSI-1
   SCSI-2
   SCSI-3
   SCSI Data Transfer Modes and Feature Sets
   SCSI Protocols and Interface Features
   Summary of SCSI Protocols and Transfer Modes
   SCSI Host Adapters
   SCSI Cables and Connectors
   SCSI Configuration and Cabling
   IDE/ATA vs. SCSI: Interface Comparison
   Hard Disk Logical Structures and File Systems
   Operating Systems and File Systems
   PC File Systems
   PC Operating System and File System Cross-Reference
   Major Disk Structures and the Boot Process
   FAT File System Disk Volume Structures
   Clusters and File Allocation
   Partitioning, Partition Sizes and Drive Lettering
   Disk Partitioning and Formatting Programs
   Disk Compression
   New Technology File System (NTFS)
   Overview and History of NTFS
   NTFS Versions
   NTFS Architecture and Structures
   NTFS Directories and Files
   NTFS Security and Permissions
   NTFS Reliability Features and System Management
   Other NTFS Features and Advantages
   NTFS Implementation Considerations
   Floppy Disk Drives
   Floppy Disk Drive Construction and Operation
   Floppy Disk Media and Low-Level Data Structures
   Floppy Disk Formats and Logical Structures
   Floppy Disk Interfacing and Configuration
   CD-ROM Drives
   CD-ROM Drive Construction and Operation
   Compact Disk Media
   Compact Disk Formats
   Recordable CD (CD-R)
   Rewriteable CD (CD-RW)
   CD-ROM Performance and Reliability
   CD-ROM Interfaces and Configuration
   Keyboards
   Keyboard Construction and Operation
   Keycaps
   Keyswitches
   Other Regular Keyboard Components
   Keyboard Operation
   Keyboard Key Groupings
   Keyboard Layouts
   General Layout Issues
   Alphanumeric Key Layouts
   Standard Keyboard Layouts
   Non-Standard Keyboard Layouts
   Special Keyboard Features and Accessories
   Keyboard Software Issues
   The PC Buyer's Guide
   Introduction To The PC Buyer's Guide
   Step-By-Step Summary Guide To Buying A PC
   Requirements Analysis
   General Requirements Analysis Issues
   Determining Your PC Requirements
   Buying, Building and Upgrading
   Budget Considerations
   PC Use Profiles
   Designing and Specifying PC Systems and Components
   PC Types
   Designing PCs: Structure and Subsystems
   PC Structural Design
   PC Subsystem Design
   Key Performance Issues In PC System Design
   Key Non-Performance Issues In PC System Design
   Component Specification Issues
   System-Based Key Component Selection
   Detailed Considerations and Tips for Specifying Particular Components
   Notebook PC Specification Issues
   Software Issues in PC Specification
   Understanding PC Sources, Vendors and Prices
   The PC Industry, Vendors and The Market
   Sources For PC Systems and Components
   Retail Sources
   Online, Catalog and Mail Order Sources
   Other Sources
   Summary Comparison of PC Sources
   Cross-Reference Between PC Sources and PC Types
   Researching Vendors and Prices
   Vendor Evaluation Factors
   Reputation and History
   Pricing, Selection and Stock
   Factors Affecting Pricing
   Customer Service
   Guarantees and Return Policies
   Warranty Service and Warranty Policies
   Support
   Vendor "Danger Signals"
   Purchasing PCs and Components
   Purchase Timing
   Delivery Methods and Issues
   Payment Methods
   Immediate Payment Options
   Delayed Payment Options
   Comparison of Payment Methods
   Making The Purchase
   Vendor and Order Problems and Solutions
   Common Vendor and Order Problems
   Dealing With Difficult Vendors and Order Problems
   Dealing With Vendor Abuses and Deceptive Practices
   After The Purchase
   Upon System Receipt
   Problems With Your System
   Final Matters
   System Care Guide
   Preventive Maintenance
   System Care: Protecting Your PC
   General System Care Factors
   Environmental Care Factors
   Cooling and Ventilation Care Factors
   Power Care Factors
   Care of Specific Components
   Care of Media
   Data Loss and Virus Prevention
   Data Problem Prevention
   Data Problem Detection
   Virus Detection and Protection
   Background on Viruses
   Virus Infection Mechanisms and Prevention
   Virus Scanning and Antivirus Software
   Backups and Disaster Recovery
   A Mental Exercise To Underscore the Importance of Backups
   The Risks To Your Data
   Backup Methods, Devices and Media
   Backup Scheduling and Media Rotation Systems
   What To Back Up
   How To Back Up
   Boot Disks
   Disaster Recovery
   Troubleshooting and Repair Guide
   General Troubleshooting Techniques
   Troubleshooting and Your Mental State
   Steps To Take First When Troubleshooting
   General Diagnostic Techniques
   Diagnostic, Troubleshooting and Repair Tools
   The Troubleshooting Expert
   Using the Troubleshooting Expert
   Troubleshooting Boot Problems
   Boot Problem Troubleshooting Walkthrough
   Quick Access to Boot Process Troubleshooting
   Troubleshooting The System Overall
   Troubleshooting BIOS Beep Codes
   American Megatrends Inc. (AMI BIOS)
   Award BIOS
   Phoenix BIOS
   Older BIOS Family (Phoenix BIOS Plus, PhoenixBIOS 1.x)
   Newer BIOS Family (PhoenixBIOS 4.x)
   Other Brand
   Troubleshooting Boot-Time Error Messages
   Troubleshooting Run-Time Error Messages
   Troubleshooting System Instablity, Reboots and Crashes
   Troubleshooting System Slowdowns
   Troubleshooting Specific Components
   System Case
   Assembly or Physical Issues
   LEDs or Case Buttons
   Key Lock
   Power Sources and Power Protection Devices
   Motherboard and System Devices
   General Failures
   CMOS Memory or Real-Time Clock
   System BIOS
   Physical Issues
   Secondary Cache
   System Bus, Resources and Expansion Cards
   The Processor
   System Memory
   Apparent Failure
   Parity Errors
   Memory Not Recognized
   Out of Memory Problems
   Performance Issues
   Video Cards
   Failure or Improper Operation
   Image Quality Problems
   Performance or Video Mode Issues
   Monitors
   Failure or Improper Operation
   Image Quality Problems
   Hard Disk Drives
   Booting or Operation Problems
   Missing Space Issues
   Configuration Issues
   Dynamic Drive Overlay Problems
   Disk Compression Issues
   Drive Letter Issues
   Errors
   Physical Problems
   File System Problems
   Performance Issues
   Windows Issues
   Floppy Disk Drives
   Booting or Operation Problems
   Disk Formatting Problems
   Errors
   Physical Problems
   File System Problems
   CD-ROM Drives
   Drive Not Recognized
   Configuration Problems
   Physical Problems
   Errors
   Audio Issues
   Performance Issues
   Peripheral I/O Ports
   Keyboards
   Mice
   Modems
   Operation and Connection Problems
   Speed Issues
   Errors and Download Problems
   Call Waiting Problems
   Software Modem Issues
   Operating Systems and Applications
   Obtaining Technical Support
   Using Automated Technical Support Systems
   Calling For Technical Support
   Other Alternatives for Technical Support
   Repairs, Returns and Refunds
   Determining the Feasibility of Repair
   Deciding On A Course Of Action
   Performing a Repair or Return
   System Optimization and Enhancement Guide
   System Optimizations and Enhancements
   Using the System Optimizations and Enhancements
   Enhance and Streamline the Boot Process
   Improve the PC's Physical and Environmental Characteristics
   System Resource (IRQ, DMA, I/O, COM) Conservation and Optimization
   General System Performance Optimization
   Operating System Performance Optimization
   Hard Disk Performance Optimization
   Windows System Resource Optimization
   Conventional and Upper Memory Optimization
   Video and Image Optimization
   File System Optimization and Freeing Disk Space
   Improve the Reliability of the System
   Miscellaneous Improvements
   Overclocking: The Dissenting Opinion
   Introduction to Overclocking
   Overclocking Risks and Rewards
   Should You Overclock?
   Procedure Guide
   Explanation of Procedure Overviews
   General Installation and Assembly Tips
   New PC Assembly Procedure
   Configuration Procedures
   System Layout Planning Procedure
   Case Floor Relocation Procedure
   Floppy Disk Drive Connection Procedure
   Hard Disk Drive Connection Procedure
   CD-ROM Drive Connection Procedure
   IDE/ATA Device Configuration Procedure
   Motherboard Configuration Procedure
   Motherboard and Case Connection Procedure
   External Peripheral Connection Procedure
   Physical Installation Procedures
   System Case Preparation Procedure
   Floppy Disk Drive Physical Installation Procedure
   Hard Disk Drive Physical Installation Procedure
   CD-ROM Drive Physical Installation Procedure
   Processor Physical Installation Procedure
   Heat Sink Physical Installation Procedure
   Cache Module Physical Installation Procedure
   Memory Module Physical Installation Procedure
   Motherboard Physical Installation Procedure
   I/O Port Connector Physical Installation Procedure
   PS/2 Mouse Port Connector Physical Installation Procedure
   Video Card Physical Installation Procedure
   Uninstallation and Disassembly Procedures
   System Case Cover Removal Procedure
   Setup and Inspection Procedures
   Post-Assembly Inspection Procedure
   Post-Assembly Initial Boot Procedure
   Safe BIOS Setup Procedure
   Post-Assembly Initial Test Procedure
   Hard Disk Partitioning and Formatting Procedure
   CD-ROM Driver Installation Procedure
   System Documentation Procedure
   Identification Procedures
   Video Card Identification Procedure
   Windows 95 Version Identification Procedure
   File System Identification Procedure
   Software Procedures
   Boot Disk Creation Procedure
   Manual Windows 95 Recovery Procedure
   Windows 95 Installation Procedure
   Technical Resource Guide (Including Links)
   Reference Tables
   Online Technical Resources (Links)
   General World Wide Web Links
   Component-Specific World Wide Web Links
   USEnet Newsgroups
   Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

Click to Read More

PC Architecture

By Michael Karbo

Contents

• PC Architecture. Preface.
• Chapter 1. The PC, history and logic.
• Chapter 2. The Von Neumann model.
• Chapter 3. A data processor.
• Chapter 4. Intro to the motherboard.
• Chapter 5. It all starts with the CPU.
• Chapter 6. The CPU and the motherboard.
• Chapter 7. The south bridge.
• Chapter 8. Inside and around the CPU.
• Chapter 9. Moores' Law.
• Chapter 10. The cache.
• Chapter 11. The L2 cache.
• Chapter 12. Data and instructions.
• Chapter 13. FPU’s and multimedia.
• Chapter 14. Examples of CPU’s.
• Chapter 15. The evolution of the Pentium 4.
• Chapter 16. Choosing a CPU.
• Chapter 17. The CPU’s immediate surroundings.
• Chapter 18. Overclocking.
• Chapter 19. Different types of RAM.
• Chapter 20. RAM technologies.
• Chapter 21. Advice on RAM.
• Chapter 22. Chipsets and hubs.
• Chapter 23. Data for the monitor.
• Chapter 24. Intro to the I/O system.
• Chapter 25. From ISA to PCI Express.
• Chapter 26. The CPU and the motherboard.
• Chapter 27. Inside and around the CPU.
• Chapter 28. The cache.
• Chapter 29. Data and instructions.
• Chapter 30. Inside the CPU.
• Chapter 31. FPU’s and multimedia.
• Chapter 32. Examples of CPU’s.
• Chapter 33. Choosing a CPU.
• Chapter 34. The CPU’s immediate surroundings.
• Chapter 35. Different types of RAM.
• Chapter 36. Chipsets and hubs.
• Chapter 37. Data for the monitor.
• Chapter 38. The PC’s I/O system.
• Chapter 39. From ISA to PCI.
• Chapter 40. I/O buses using IRQ’s.
• Chapter 41. Check your adapters.
• Chapter 42. I/O and The south bridge.
• Chapter 43. SCSI, USB and Firewire.
• Chapter 44. Hard disks, ATA and SATA.
• Chapter 45. System software. A small glossary.

Chapter 1. The PC, history and logic
The PC is a fascinating subject, and I want to take you on an illustrated, guided tour of its workings. But first I will tell you a bit about the background and history of computers. I will also have to introduce certain terms and expressions, since computer science is a subject with its own terminology. Then I will start to go through the actual PC architecture!

The historical PC
The PC is a microcomputer, according to the traditional division of computers based on size.

Microcomputers
No-one uses the expression microcomputer much anymore, but that is what the PC actually is. If we look at computers based on size, we find the PC at the bottom of the hierarchy.

• Mainframes and super computers are the biggest computers – million dollar machines, as big as a refrigerator or bigger. An example is the IBM model 390.
• Minicomputers are large, powerful machines which are often found at the centre of networks of “dumb” terminals and PC’s. For example, IBM’s AS/400. A definition that was used in the past, was that minicomputers cost between $10,000 and $100,000.
• Workstations are very powerful user machines. They have the capacity to execute technical/scientific programs and calculations, and typically use a UNIX variant or Windows NT as their operating system. Workstations used to be equipped with powerful RISC processors, like Digital Alpha, Sun Sparc or MIPS, but today workstations can be configured with one or more of Intel’s more powerful CPU’s.
• The PC is the baby of the family: Small, cheap, mass-produced computers which typically run Windows and which are used for standard programs which can be purchased anywhere.......

Click to Read More

A history of the personal computer: the people and the technology

This book is an exciting history of the personal computer revolution. Early personal computing, the "first" personal computer, invention of the microprocessor at intel and the first microcomputer are detailed. It also traces the evolution of the personal computer from the hardware and software hacker, to its use as a consumer appliance on the internet. This is the only book that provides such comprehensive coverage. It not only describes the hardware and software, but also the companies and people who made it happen.

Hardware from the MITS Altair to the IBM Personal Computer and the Apple Macintosh are covered. Separate chapters describe the developments at significant companies such as Apple Computer and IBM. Successful companies such as Compaq and Dell and the less successful ones such as Commodore and Osborne are also detailed.

Details of the software that powered the hardware are described. This includes application programs, operating systems, and programming languages. Two chapters describe the founding of Microsoft by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and the major contributions by the company to the personal computer industry.

The development of components such as disk drives, memory, modems, printers and video terminals are included. Associations, clubs, conventions and the numerous magazines that supported the industry are also chronicled.

The most extensive bibliography on the history of the personal computer industry and a complete index make the book a valuable reference source.

Finally share the excitement of the incredible success and fortunes created by people such as Michael Dell, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Click to Read More/Download

Hardware Reference Material

Facts and figures on a variety of topics. If your not careful, you just may learn something new.

This ebook offers computer hardware description of various topics including

1. Cables - Types and standards - General descriptions of networking and peripheral cables.
2. RAM - Descriptions - Technology overview: banking, capacity and form factors.
3. Processors - Intel Family - From the 8086 to the Pentium 4.
4. Hard Drives - Standards - ST-506, ESDI, ATA, SCSI .
5. Main Board - Evolution and Technology - XT, AT,baby AT, ATX .
6. PC Bus types - Expansion Slots - Peripheral connectors and internal data routes.
7. Storage Media - How data is stored - Methods for storing data onto digital media.
8. Networking - IEEE 802.3 LAN's - Ethernets, TCP/IP, Equipment.

Click to Read More

Hardware Book

Welcome to the Hardware Book. Internet's largest free collection of connector pinouts and cable descriptions.

Connectors

• Universal Serial Bus (USB)
• ATX Power Supply
• SCART
• S-Video
• VGA (15)
• Serial (PC 9)
• VGA (VESA DDC)
• ATA (44) Internal
• Pop-Port
• IEEE1394

Cables

• Nullmodem (9-9)
• Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Straight Thru
• Video to TV SCART
• Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T and 100Base-T4 Crossover
• S-Video to SCART
• S-Video to Composite
• Cisco Console (9)
• 9 to 15 pin VGA
• IEEE1394 cable
• Amiga to SCART

Computers

• Apple TV
• 800XL
• Amiga 500
• Amiga 1200
• 800
• C64
• 800XE
• 400
• 1200XL
• ZX Spectrum 128K

Adapters

• PS/2 to Serial Mouse
• PS/2 Keyboard Y (Gateway)
• GameCube Memory Card to SD
• 9 to 25 Serial
• DIN to Mini-DIN Keyboard
• Serial to PS/2 Mouse
• Macintosh Video to VGA
• PS/2 Keyboard Y (IBM Thinkpad)
• Mini-DIN to DIN Keyboard
• Nullmodem

Manufactures

• Atari
• Sega
• IBM
• SGI
• Apple
• NEC
• Commodore
• Sinclair Research
• Spectravideo
• Mattel

Click to Read More

Basic Computing Using Windows

Computers and Peripherals
What is a computer? A computer is a machine that inputs (takes in) facts and information (known as data), and then processes (does something to or with) it. Afterwards it outputs, or displays, the results for you to see. Data is all kinds of information, including, pictures, letters, numbers, and sounds. There are two main parts of computers, hardware and software. Hardware is all of the parts of the computer you can see and touch. Software is the instructions that a computer uses to do what you ask it to. Pieces of software are often called programs.

Many people mistakenly think that where the computer normally displays things is the computer. This is not true. That is the monitor. The computer is usually a box. Also, you may call the whole assembly of all the hardware (the computer and the monitor, for example) the computer.

There are different styles of monitors. One of these is the one already shown. It is called a CRT monitor. It takes more power than the other popular kind, called LCDs. However, CRT monitors work faster, which makes them better for fast games because the movement will blur less. LCDs are thinner than CRTs, but they are more expensive.

Click to Download

Upgrading & Repairing PCs Eighth Edition

Welcome to Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 8th Edition. This book is for people who want to upgrade, repair, maintain, and troubleshoot computers. It covers the full range of PC-compatible systems from the oldest 8-bit machines to the latest in high-end 64-bit workstations.

In addition, this book covers state-of-the-art hardware and accessories that make the most modern personal computers easier, faster, and more productive to use. Hardware coverage includes all of the Intel and Intel-compatible processors through the Pentium, Pentium Pro, and new Pentium II CPU chips; new cache and main memory technology; PCI local bus technology; CD-ROM drives; tape backups; sound boards; PC-Card and Cardbus devices for laptops; IDE and SCSI-interface devices; larger and faster hard drives; and new video adapter and display capabilities.

The comprehensive coverage of the PC-compatible personal computer in this book has consistently won acclaim since debuting as the first book of its kind on the market in 1988. Now with the release of this eighth edition, Upgrading and Repairing PCs continues its place as not only the best selling book of its type, but also the most comprehensive and easily used reference on even the most modern systems--those based on cutting-edge hardware and software. The book examines PCs in-depth, outlines the differences among them, and presents options for configuring each system at the time you purchase it.

Sections of this book provide detailed information about each internal component of a personal computer system, from the processor to the keyboard and video display. The book examines the options available in modern, high-performance PC configurations, and how to use them to your advantage; it focuses on much of the hardware and software available today and specifies the optimum configurations for achieving maximum benefit for the time and money you spend. At a glance, here are the major system components and peripherals covered in this edition of Upgrading and Repairing PCs:

• Pentium II, Pentium Pro, Pentium, 486, and earlier central processing unit (CPU) chips.
• The latest processor upgrade socket and slot specifications.
• New motherboard chipsets and designs, including the ATX form factor.
• Special bus architectures and devices, including high-speed PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and VL-Bus (VESA Local), EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture), and MCA (Micro Channel Architecture).
• Bus resources which often conflict such as Interrupt ReQuest (IRQ) lines, Direct Memory Access (DMA) channels, and Input Output (I/O) port addresses.
• Plug and Play architecture.
• Larger, faster hard drives and hard drive interfaces, including EIDE and SCSI.
• Floppy drives, including 360K, 1.2M, 1.44M, and 2.88M drives.
• New storage devices such as DVD, CD-ROM, and Magneto-Optical drives.
• Increasing system memory capacity with SIMM and DIMM modules.
• New types of memory including Synchronous Pipeline Burst cache, EDO RAM, Burst EDO, and Synchronous DRAM.
• Large-screen Super VGA monitors and high-speed graphics adapter cards.
• Peripheral devices such as CD-ROM drives, sound boards, and tape backups.
• PC-Card and Cardbus devices for laptops.

Click to Read More/Download

Systems

Topics on the engineering of computer software and hardware systems: techniques for controlling complexity, system infrastructure, networks and distributed systems, atomicity and coordination of parallel activities, recovery and reliability, privacy of information, impact of computer systems on society. Case studies of working systems and outside reading in the current literature provide comparisons and contrasts. The group project is to write an NSF systems proposal to fund a middle-ware product, for announcement RFP01-63.

Contents

Intro to Systems, Critical Thinking about Systems, the Role of Complexity

• Lucky's Bozos on the bus
• Science of Scientific Writing
• Worse is better
• Architecture of Complexity

System Models, System Design

• Hints for Computer System Design
• An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accident
• The X Window System

Basics of Operating Systems, Storage, Virtual Memory

• The UNIX time-sharing system
• Disk System Architectures for High Performance Computing
• Virtual Memory for an Object Oriented Language

Other topics covering in this ebook are Distributed Systems, Virtual memory discussion, Networking, Distributed Storage, Security, Name Services, Time and Coordination, Distributed Transactions, Replication and Distributed Multimedia.

Click to Read More/Download

How Computers Work

Includes the basics of digital logical design, computer organization and architecture including assembly language, processor design, memory hierarchies and pipelining. Students examine the detailed construction of a very simple computer. Problem sets use Beta-Sim, a RISC simulator written by Mike Wessler. A higher level view of a modern RISC architecture is studied, using the Patterson and Hennessey introductory text, from both the programmer's point of view and the hardware designer's point of view. The distinction between RISC and CISC architectures is emphasized.

Contents

• Philosophy and Roadmap, Simple Programs, Beta ISA
• Storage Allocation, Stack Discipline, Calling Conventions
• Unpipelined Beta, Exceptions
• Implementing the ALU
• Implementation of Beta Memories
• Synchronous Finite State Machines (FSMs)
• Flip flops, Asynchronous FSMs, Dynamic Discipline, Timing
• Arbitration and Metastability
• Static Discipline, Transistor-level design
• Physics of Communication and Computation
• Latency vs. Throughput, Explicit Parallelism
• Pipelining the Beta, Hazards, Stalling, Anullment
• Caches
• Virtual Memory, Cache Coherence, Integration of Caches
• Communications Networks
• Explicitly Parallel Machines, Future Machines

Click to Read More/Download

How Computers Work - Processor and Main Memory

By Roger Young

Computers are the most complex machines that have ever been created. Very few people really know how they work. This book will tell you how they work and no technical knowledge is required. It explains the operation of a simple, but fully functional, computer in complete detail. The simple computer described consists mainly of a processor and main memory. Relays, which are explained, are used in the circuitry instead of transistors for simplicity. This book does not cover peripherals like modems, mice, disk drives, or monitors.

Did you ever wonder what a bit, a pixel, a latch, a word (of memory), a data bus, an address bus, a memory, a register, a processor, a timing diagram, a clock (of a processor), an instruction, or machine code is? Though most explanations of how computers work are a lot of analogies or require a background in electrical engineering, this book will tell you precisely what each of them is and how each of them works without requiring any previous knowledge of computers or electronics. However, this book starts out very easy and gets harder as it goes along. You must read the book starting at the first page and not skip around because later topics depend on understanding earlier topics. How far you can get may depend on your background. A junior high school science background should be enough. There is no mathematics required other than simple addition and multiplication. This is a short book, but it must be studied carefully. This means that you will have to read some parts more than once to understand them. Get as far as you can. You will be much more knowledgeable about how computers work when you are done than when you started, even if you are not able to get through the whole text. This is a technical book though it is aimed at a non-technical audience. Though this book takes considerable effort to understand, it is very easy for what it explains. After you have studied this book, if you go back and read it, it will seem simple. Good Luck!

Click to Read More/Download