TW Tech Glossary - Misplaced your bible? Well here it is!

This truly took a while to complete and should be used by all from beginners to advance techies. Look into it, you won't be sorry. (Very Resourceful) N-Tier Application Architecture - N-tier application architecture provides a model for developers to create a flexible and reusable application. By breaking up an application into tiers, developers only have to modify or add a specific layer, rather than have to rewrite the entire application over, if they decide to change technologies or scale up. Parallel Computing - Parallelism has sometimes been viewed as a rare and exotic sub area of computing, interesting but of little relevance to the average programmer. A study of trends in applications, computer architecture, and networking shows that this view is no longer tenable. Parallelism is becoming ubiquitous, and parallel programming is becoming central to the programming enterprise Types of CPU's (Processors) - Upgradation is not something new to the field of computers. The computer has come a long way from being just a calculating machine to a device that has become a necessity everywhere. There is no industry or business that can't benefit from the usage of computers. Whether it's a managed server used for dedicated server hosting, personal desktop computers, or just your student friendly notebook computers. The number of ways we can benefit from computers are numerous. The main component of a computer has seen great changes in the past. First generation computers made use of magnetic core memory whereas second generation saw the advent oftransistors. It was in the third generation which began in the 1960s that gave rise to microprocessors. Motherboards and Their Components - The motherboard represents the logical foundation of the computer. In other words, everything that makes a computer a computer must be attached to the motherboard. From the CPU to storage devices, from RAM to printer ports, the motherboard provides the connections that help them work together. 227 Categorized CompTIA A Plus Q and A - CompTIA A+ Certification is widely recognized as the firstcertification you should receive in an information technology (IT) career. Whether you are planning to specialize in PC hardware, Windows operating system management, or network management, theCompTIA A+ Certification exams measure the baseline skills you need to master in order to begin your journey toward greater responsibilities and achievements in information technology. CompTIA A+ Certification is designed to be a "vendor-neutral" exam that measures your knowledge of industry-standard technology. The number one goal of this Q and A tutorial is a simple one: to help you pass the 2009 version of theCompTIA A+ Certification Essentials Exam (number 220-701) and the Practical Application Exam (number 220-702), and thereby earn your CompTIA A+ Certification.

How Does a Motherboard Work? - In the event of taking an existing computer in for repairs only to be told that a new motherboard is needed, it may sound like it is very expensive to buy. The good news is that motherboards come by very cheap compared to purchasing a new PC. Many online retailers specializing in computer parts sell motherboards for under $100 for a board that meets the requirements of building a highend computer for a lot more, although there are boards that cost more for what a builder needs for the ultimate custom PC. 3 Best Motherboards of 2011 - The tech-savvy should be well aware of the benefits of building their own personal computers. The relatively easy process of assembling various components can not only save you a boatload of money, but also supply you with the perfect rig for your individual needs. Whether you are updating a current machine or building a new one from scratch, the most important part you buy will probably be the motherboard. Involved in almost every major computing process, a motherboard can make or break your personal computer. However, technology is changing so rapidly that it's sometimes hard to know what's cutting edge and what's outdated. But, no matter what you're looking for, we've got you covered. Below are the three best motherboards of 2011, as determined by price, performance and durability. Since motherboards tend to be divided between Intel and AMD processors, a comparable board for the other processor is included in each category.

What is a Motherboard?
The motherboard is the main circuit board inside your PC. Every components at some point communicates through the motherboard, either by directly plugging into it or by communicating through one of the motherboards ports. The motherboard is one big communication highway. Its purpose inside your PC is to provide a platform for all the other components and peripherals to talk to each other.

Types of Motherboards
The type of motherboards depends on the CPU it was designed for. You can therefore categories motherboards by which socket type they have. e.g. Socket A, Socket 478 etc. The Type of motherboard you buy is very important, as it will need to house your CPU, and they are not interchangeable. When buying a motherboard, it will always tell you what socket type it has.

When Buying a Motherboard

As everything you have on the PC at some point needs the motherboard, you need to consider these components when buying a motherboard. Foe example, if you have a lot of devices with a PCI interface that you wish to use, there is little point buying a motherboard that only offers you 3 PCI slots. Like wise with memory, you have to make sure that there are enough slots for the amount of memory you have or wish to have. The motherboard also needs the correct type of interface for your Memory, Graphics card, Hard disks and other items as well. You will find that most motherboards offer everything you need however it needs checking on when buying. Its especially important to pay detail to your motherboard if you want to use older components, which a new motherboard may or may not support. The major difference between motherboards that support the same CPU is the model of the chipset (more on the chipset later). Different chipsets offer different performance and different features in terms of memory support, AGP port speed, Multiplier numbers, Bus speeds and much more.

Speed of a Motherboard
Motherboards have got to be one of the hardest components to measure the speed of. Performance can really only be measured by benchmarking using the same components in several motherboards of the same type. You often find that motherboards with the same chipset have roughly the same performance in real world tests. The minor differences that do occur are down to the quality of the materials used and the quality of the manufacturing. The Motherboards speeds that are quoted on the box are maximum supported speeds for other components. For example motherboards will quote the maximum FSB (Front Side Bus) speed. However without a CPU that also supports this speed, it will never be reached. Likewise when it quotes the maximum memory speed. The memory of this speed has to be present.

What is a Motherboard Chipset?

A motherboard chipset controls all the data that flows through the data channels (buses) of the motherboard. The primary function of the motherboard chipset is to direct this data to the correct area's of the motherboard, and therefore the correct components.

Components of a Motherboard
The motherboard contains many connections for all type of components. Motherboards contain expansion slots such as the ISA, PCI, AGP and DIMM sockets. It also contains external connections for your onboard sound card, USB ports, Serial and Parallel ports, PS/2 ports for your keyboard and mouse as well as network and Firewire connections. So the motherboard has a massive part to play in the workings of your PC. Components that you buy all rely on the motherboard to have the correct connections are available and working. Its best to buy a decent motherboard especially if you plan on buying extra's in the future.

Tips
Scams
On-line auctions are now the number one location where thefts and scams will occur. If at all possible look at the sellers history or profile. Always remember if it sounds to be good to true, it probably is.

Piracy
With the advances in technology it is now possible for anyone to make their own CDs it is possible that you may be buying copied software which is illegal. Ensure that the software you are buying is a authentic copy, documentation is included with the software, and the the CD does not appear to be burned. Generally burned CDs will have a unusual color such as green or gold tint. However it is still possible for someone to make CDs which can look like an ordinary CD. Another way of possibly determining if Illegal copy is the price. If for example you see a Adobe Photoshop 5.0 for $20-$70 dollars its more then likely not a authentic copy. If it sounds to be good to be true it probably is.

On-line Auctions
Companies such as E-bay or Yahoo may provide auctions which other people have the capability of listing products that they are selling. We recommend that if you purchase through an an auction that you only pay by check to prevent possible credit card fraud. If you need to user your credit card consider such options as PayPal.

Return Policy
Ensure that the you verify what the resellers return policy may be incase the device is not functioning or is not compatible with your computer. Extra Note: Generally software cannot be returned to the place of purchase to help prevent software piracy.

Warranty
Verify the warranty on the product insuring that it is either provided by the manufacture of the product or the place of purchase.

CPU Compatible
There are a wide variety of different types of CPU Sockets and Slots. When looking at purchasing a motherboard ensure it is compatible with the CPU you have or that it will be compatible with the CPU you plan on purchasing.

Upgrade
Upgrading a motherboard on the computer allows for new improved hardware to be added into the computer.

Upgrade
Upgrading a motherboard on the computer will speed up the overall performance of the computer. May not be noticeable.

P4 System Optimization During Installation

When you install OS (other than WinXP) on an Intel 845 or 850 chipset based Pentium4 system, you need to install the chipset driver before any other drivers, such as video card and sound card. Here's the installation order. 1. 2. 3. 4. OS (Win2000, 9x, Me) Service Pack (if necessary) Chipset Driver (usually in the CD that comes with your motherboard) Drivers for Other Devices

It makes difference in performance, especially for video.

ASUS P4T + 1GB RDRAM + Win9X/Me = Not Good

Currently, ASUS P4T motherboards with 1GB of populated RDRAM will not work within a Windows 9X/Me environment. This is not much of a tragedy since there is no particular reason to have 1GB of RAM on a Win9X/Me system -- they only offer performance gains up to 512MB. However, this may cause problems for people intending to do dual-boot systems, so be aware.

General P4 Guidelines
P4 systems currently require RDRAM memory (Rambus, RIMM..). The P4 platform will supposedly support SDRAM by the end of 2001.

General P4 Guidelines
Boxed CPUs come with 2 x 64MB (total of 128MB) RIMM. These are not ECC. Intel may begin packaging 2 x 128MB RIMMs in the future.

General P4 Guidelines
RDRAM can be PC600, 700 or 800. The modules that come with the CPU are PC800, the fastest type.

General P4 Guidelines
Memory has to be installed as a pair. That's why the CPU comes with 2 x 64MB, instead of 1 x 128MB. The pair of the memory has to be the same size, type (ECC or non-ECC) and speed (PC600 or PC800).

General P4 Guidelines
The case has to have 4 specific holes to support a big heatsink. An Antec case (#A58) and a mid tower case (#A51) have the holes. The new aluminum cases do as well.

General P4 Guidelines
P4 motherboards have a new 12V connection. In order to use P4 with a regular power supply (without the 12V connector), you need to use a PC Power&Cooling 12VATX adapter. This will convert the regular power connection to 12VATX connection. Or, you can replace the power supply with one that already has the 12VATX connection.

Microsoft Windows 2000 Patch for AGP Applications on AMD Athlon and AMD Duron Processors
AMD says, "An issue has been identified that could result in the corruption of video data shared between AGP graphics adapters and AMD Athlon or AMD Duron processors when running Microsoft Windows 2000. This issue is independent of system chipset and has been observed when running Ziff-Davis 3D Winbench 2000

and Mad Onion 3DMark 2000 in benchmarking mode. AMD and Microsoft have worked together to identify a patch that involves adding a key to the registry. To add the key run the registry key installation file below or add the registry key as detailed in Microsoft KnowledgeBase article Q270715. AMD recommends that AMD Athlon and AMD Duron users with AGP graphics adapters running Windows 2000 install this patch.

Did You Know?

Most computer dealers say they build their computers. If they carry a 3 year warranty they are built by someone else or the warranty is out of their back pocket. Very few parts outside of monitors carry anything pass one year, a few motherboards and even less hardrives carry a 3 year warranty.

Integrated Motherboard: A motherboard where some or all of the internal input or output devices are soldered into it.

Motherboard was the original name of the what is now called "main board." The difference is that motherboards had "daughter boards" plugged into them. These "daughter boards" later became simply "cards." Most brands of "main boards" have no cards, some don't even have plug-in slots for such.

Integrated motherboards cause problems when wanting to upgrade your computer, also, LOTS more money. EXAMPLE: Most Compaq /HPs, Dells, Gateways, IBMs have only three pieces usable in an upgrade: the CD ROM ($25 new), hard drive (usually too small to be used, $65-$95 new) and the 3.5" drive ($10 new).

The motherboard is the main board in a computer that supports the processor (CPU) and all internal input and output devices. Input and output devices are the video, modem, sound card, hard drive and floppy controllers, memory (RAM), network cards. All modern PCI motherboards, thanks to Intel, contain integrated floppy and IDE hard drive controllers. Again thanks to Intel & Via almost all motherboard now have integrated sound also. Luckily we can disable the on-board sound and put in a real Sound Blaster sound card.

Compaq/HP, Gateway, Acer, IBM, Pionex, Dell, NEC, Sony and Packard Bell computers make good landfill after crushing. That is if they have biodegradable motherboards. A case of

Samsung and most Maxtor hard drives make fair boat anchors.

You can place an ISA card in a EISA slot. - True

Microsoft recently dared hackers to break into their server with the latest beta of Windows 2000 and its firewall. Before anyone could, the server crashed by itself!

There was $8 billion in computer theft in 1996. Computer theft is one of the the fastest growing crimes in America and the UK. In 1996 the theft of portable computers accounted for $650 million in losses in the US. In the US, 30% of all reported thefts are computer related.

Every program has at least one bug and can be shortened by at least one instruction--from which, by induction, one can reason that every program can be reduced to one instruction which doesn't work.

Every program has at least one bug and can be shortened by at least one instruction--from which, by induction, one can reason that every program can be reduced to one instruction which doesn't work.

Every program has at least one bug and can be shortened by at least one instruction--from which, by induction, one can reason that every program can be reduced to one instruction which doesn't work.

Circle Jerks! We have all been to them with their never ending pages that are impossible to get rid of. It is called 'spanking the surfer' for not buying something and it is terrible web etiquette.

According to American Programmer, 31.1% of computer software projects get canceled before they are completed, and 52.7% will overrun their initial cost estimates by 189%. 94% of project start-ups are restarts of previously failed projects.

Click here to read more.

Did You Know?

Things you learn about computers from the movies: Powerful computers beep whenever keys are pressed or the screen changes. They also slow down the output on the screen so that it doesn't go any faster than the audience can read it. The *really* advanced ones emulate the sound of a dot-matrix printer as the characters come across the screen.

TW Tech Glossary - Misplaced your bible? Well here it is! This truly took a while to complete and should be used by all from beginners to advance techies. Look into it, you won't be sorry. (Very Resourceful) Basic Networking Tutorial - A network is any collection of independent computers that communicate with one another over a shared network medium.A computer network is a collection of two or more connected computers. When these computers are joined in a network, people can share files and peripherals such as modems, printers, tape backup drives, or CD-ROM drives. When networks at multiple locations are connected using services available from phone companies, people can send e-mail, share links to the global Internet, or conduct video conferences in real time with other remote users. As companies rely on applications like electronic mail and database management for core business operations, computer networking becomes increasingly more important. Remote Desktop Technology of Windows XP - Some people thought that the whole notion of terminal services is a bit to technical for them to understand. Well, MicroSoft and our good friends that work for Bill Boy Gates have come out with terminal services, changed the name and made it a whole lot easier to understand. Find out how! How IPV-6 Is Going To Change the Net - Ever wonder what'll happen when all the possible IP addresses will be taken? Remember when the phone companies ran out of 800 numbers? Well the same thing is about to happen with IP addresses and quickly. Read all about it here Most Common TCP Ports - TCP ports will popup almost with any application you use wether it is ICQ or FTP. It will soon be realized how good its knowledge is once you yourself will start applying it in day to day tech use. How Virtual LANs (VLANS) Work - A VLAN is a grouping of computers that is logically segmented by functions,

project teams, or applications without regard to the physical location of users Improving Performance Over Wireless Networks - The main problem with the TCP is that TCP falsely assume the packet loss as congestion. The TCP sender detects a packet loss when a time out happens or duplicate acknowledgements happen Windows Windows on the Wall - Windows NT is generally regarded among IT (information technology) professionals as the most stable and secure Windows OS (operating system). Or is it Did You Go To My PC? - Ever make it just in time for work after driving through rush hour traffic and realize that you've left an important file on your computer at home? Or have you ever had to work late in the office because you don't have access to files, applications, or shared resources at home? Well maybe your life has just become way easier. Introducing, GoToMyPC! A wonderful little service that'll let you access your home or work computer from anywhere! It takes two minutes to download this amazing software onto your computer and you'll have the power to access your computer from any web browser on any computer. A simple little technology of PC-to-PC connection or as GoToMyPC calls it, "Remote-Access Solution" will go a long way for anyone. Internet Connection Sharing - Part I - This article explains Internet Connection Sharing in detail, and is designed as a practical guide to help you set it all up. Using the Computer...Away From the Computer - You get to work on a Monday morning, and realise that you've left the document you were presenting today back at home on your computer. How do you get it? Or maybe you have a friend that has problems with their computer, and you know how to fix it, but only if you can see it. There could be many more situations where you need to use a particular computer and you're not there. Enter the range of programs known as VNC. DNS Resolver Cache - To help speed up Web browsing, Windows XP comes with a local cache containing any DNS addresses that have been looked up recently. Once an URL has been resolved by an Internet name server into a numerical IP, the information is stored locally. Anytime your browser requests an URL, Windows XP first looks in the local cache to see if it is there before querying the external name server used by your ISP. If it finds the resolved URL locally it uses that IP. This is supposed to save time and cut down on Web traffic. Wireless Network Security - Ever wonder if it's a good idea to switch your home LAN to wireless? This is a very easy to understand discussion about the security matters involved. Internet Backbone Speeds - This is something that can come in handy for those of you who are simply curious about internet backbone speeds. Denial Of Service - DoS stand for denial-of-service attack, a type of attack on a network that is designed to bring the network to its knees by flooding it with useless traffic...

Kindness Online - So I thought this morning I would try to be the optimist, and give reason to hope for the future of the Internet by drawing upon its present. Now, it may seem like there is less hope today than there was before. People are less kind. There is less trust around. I don't know. As a simple example, we could run a test here. How many people have ever hitchhiked? I know. How many people have hitchhiked within the past 10 years? Right. So what has changed? It's not better public transportation. So that's one reason to think that we might be declensionists, going in the wrong direction. Networking Terms and Topics, Simplified! - This very much to the point guide highlights some important networking terms and topics and simplifies them to us, the mere mortals. How to Connect Two Laptops Using Bluetooth - Do you need to copy a heavy file from another laptop without using pen drive or connecting cables? Of course, this can be done by using electronic transfer methods like ftp or online data storage systems. However, these methods are not only time consuming, they often lead to increased data transfer costs. Moreover, what if there is no internet connectivity available in the immediate vicinity? Under such circumstances, you can connect two laptops through Bluetooth and exchange files seamlessly. 227 Categorized CompTIA A Plus Q and A - CompTIA A+ Certification is widely recognized as the firstcertification you should receive in an information technology (IT) career. Whether you are planning to specialize in PC hardware, Windows operating system management, or network management, theCompTIA A+ Certification exams measure the baseline skills you need to master in order to begin your journey toward greater responsibilities and achievements in information technology. CompTIA A+ Certification is designed to be a "vendor-neutral" exam that measures your knowledge of industry-standard technology. The number one goal of this Q and A tutorial is a simple one: to help you pass the 2009 version of theCompTIA A+ Certification Essentials Exam (number 220-701) and the Practical Application Exam (number 220-702), and thereby earn your CompTIA A+ Certification. Network Topologies - Ever wonder... how are all of these file, print, fax, and computer resources connected so as to allow the typical desktop computer to access them? Network topology refers to the way networked computers and network resources are connected. The three most widely used topologies are bus, ring, and star. Note that the following network topology diagrams are logical views of the topologies they represent and dont necessarily match the physical (electrical) interconnections on the networks. History of TCP/IP - Internetworking with TCP/IP has been around for many years-almost as many years as Unix has been available. TCP/IP, or Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, grew out of the work that was done with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. In 1969, DARPA sponsored a project that became known as the ARPANET. This network mainly provided high-bandwidth

connectivity between the major computing sites in government, educational, and research laboratories. IP Spoofing and Sniffing - Sniffing and spoofing are security threats that target the lower layers of thenetworking infrastructure supporting applications that use the Internet. Users do not interact directly with these lower layers and are typically completely unaware that they exist. Without a deliberate consideration of these threats, it is impossible to build effective security into the higher levels. Sniffing is a passive security attack in which a machine separate from the intended destination reads data on a network. The term "sniffing" comes from the notion of "sniffing the ether" in an Ethernet network and is a bad pun on the two meanings of the word "ether." Passive security attack are those that do not alter the normal flow of data on a communication link or inject data into the link. WikiLeaks, The Technical Aspect - Wikileaks has been in the news for quite some time now as it has rocked many nations, embroiling itself in controversy over the fact that it has been releasing classified documents which have been termed as potentially harmful for national security as well as international diplomacy. Amidst all the confusion related to it's ethical and moral standards, people around the world have also speculated how the site functions technically, as a site which has been so controversial, might be technologically sound as well because various steps have already been taken in order to shut the Website down but none of them have availed any results. Brief History of Wi-Fi - Wi-Fi would certainly not exist without a decision taken in 1985 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), America's telecoms regulator, to open several bands of wireless spectrum, allowing them to be used without the need for a government license. This was an unheard-of move at the time; other than the ham radio channels, there was very little unlicensed spectrum. But the FCC, prompted by a visionary engineer on its staff, Michael Marcus, took three chunks of spectrum from the industrial, scientific and medical bands and opened them up to communications entrepreneurs. Implement Chat Systems on an Intranet - It used to be that businesses had a major influence on what types of products and services were available to the general public. In the early days of the Internet,networking LAN technologies and needs were the driving force behind the creation of many software applications and tools that users accessed. The growing popularity of the World Wide Web with casual computer users led to a paradigm shift in how to approach usable software solutions for these users. Simple to install and use software applications such as file sharing, e-mail and instant chat programs were instantly popular.

What is Computer Networking?

A network is a collection of connected intelligent computing devices. The connection is not necessarily a fancy one. A connection between two computers by direct cabling is qualified to be a network. By this definition, a workstation which is loaded with a computer, a scanner, and a printer, is not treated as a network. A network can consist of two computers connected together on a desk or it can consist of many Local Area Networks (LANs) connected together to form a Wide Area Network (WAN) across a continent. The key is that

two or more computers are connected together by a medium and are sharing resources. These resources can be files, printers, hard?drives, or CPU number-crunching power. A Local Area Network (LAN) is a smaller network within one location or between several buildings A Metropolitan Network (MAN, politically incorrect, no WOMAN!) is a midsize network spanning the city. A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a giant network spanning across several cities or even several continents.

Did You Know?

Peer to Peer networking was around even 30 years ago. Internet itself has evolved from the basic home networking.

What was the First long distance Connection? In 1965 using a low speed dial-up telephone line, MIT researcher

Lawrence G. Roberts working with Thomas Merrill, connected the TX-2 computer in Massachusetts to the Q-32 in California. The phone lines weren't quite up to the task! Who coined the phrase 'World Wide Web'? Tim Berners-Lee in 1990. He's also considered by most people as the person who started the whole thing rolling. How did the Internet Start and Why? It all started with the time-sharing of IBM computers in the early 1960s at universities such as Dartmouth and Berkeley in the States. People would share the same computer for their computing tasks. The Internet also received help from Sputnik! After this Russian Satellite was launched in 1957, President Eisenhower formed ARPA to advance computer networking and communication.

What Does a CPU Do? - As the brain of your PC, the CPU allows you to operate software. And, of course, there is a connection between the power of the computer and the work of the CPU.

TW Tech Glossary - Misplaced your bible? Well here it is! This truly took a while to complete and should be used by all from beginners to advance techies. Look into it, you won't be sorry. (Very Resourceful) N-Tier Application Architecture - N-tier application architecture provides a model for developers to create a flexible and reusable application. By breaking up an application into tiers, developers only have to modify or add a specific layer, rather than have to rewrite the entire application over, if they decide to change technologies or scale up. Parallel Computing - Parallelism has sometimes been viewed as a rare and exotic sub area of computing, interesting but of little relevance to the average programmer. A study of trends in applications, computer architecture, and networking shows that this view is no longer tenable. Parallelism is becoming ubiquitous, and parallel programming is becoming central to the programming enterprise Types of CPU's (Processors) - Upgradation is not something new to the field of computers. The computer has come a long way from being just a calculating machine to a device that has become a necessity everywhere. There is no industry or business that can't benefit from the usage of computers. Whether it's a managed server used for dedicated server hosting, personal desktop computers, or just your student friendly notebook computers. The number of ways we can benefit from computers are numerous. The main component of a computer has seen great changes in the past. First generation computers made use of magnetic core memory whereas second generation saw the advent oftransistors. It was in the third generation which began in the 1960s that gave rise to microprocessors. Types of PC Cases - Computer cases come in a variety of colors, designs, materials and for those who wish to bare all, there are clear acrylic cases available. You'll hear of all types of hardware lingo like: ATX computer cases, full tower computer cases, desktop computer cases, custom computer cases,aluminum computer cases, cheap computer cases, gaming computer cases, mini computer cases, and on and on and on...you get the drift. 227 Categorized CompTIA A Plus Q and A - CompTIA A+ Certification is widely recognized as the firstcertification you should receive in an information technology (IT) career. Whether you are planning to specialize in PC hardware, Windows operating system management, or network management, theCompTIA A+ Certification exams measure the baseline skills you need to master in order to begin your journey toward greater responsibilities and achievements in information technology. CompTIA A+ Certification is designed to be a "vendor-neutral" exam that measures your knowledge of industry-standard technology. The number one goal of this Q and A tutorial is a simple one: to help you pass the 2009 version of theCompTIA A+ Certification Essentials Exam (number 220-701) and the Practical Application Exam (number 220-702), and thereby earn your CompTIA A+ Certification.

Virtex V4 SX - Thousand Core Processor - All computers have a Central Processing Unit (CPU) in which contains Core Processing Chips that allow the CPU to run your programs. In the beginning, a desktop computer had a chip contained transistors that let the CPU run one process at a time. As time went on, newer Core Processors were developed that split the chip into two, four or up to 16 cores on one Core Processor, allowing the CPU to run more than one process at a time. This greatly increased the processing time of the computer. 3 Best Motherboards of 2011 - The tech-savvy should be well aware of the benefits of building their own personal computers. The relatively easy process of assembling various components can not only save you a boatload of money, but also supply you with the perfect rig for your individual needs. Whether you are updating a current machine or building a new one from scratch, the most important part you buy will probably be the motherboard. Involved in almost every major computing process, a motherboard can make or break your personal computer. However, technology is changing so rapidly that it's sometimes hard to know what's cutting edge and what's outdated. But, no matter what you're looking for, we've got you covered. Below are the three best motherboards of 2011, as determined by price, performance and durability. Since motherboards tend to be divided between Intel and AMD processors, a comparable board for the other processor is included in each category.

What is a CPU (Central Processing Unit)?

Sometimes we refer to the CPU as the system box or brain. It is the computer chip that does all of the processing for the computer. Inside this tiny chip are millions of transistors (electrical switches) that are connected so they can carry out mathematical calculations. Everything a computer does is essentially a mathematical calculation.

How the CPU Works

To properly perform its job, the CPU must complete a cycle of four steps. The first step in this cycle is to fetch a instruction from a software program's memory. Once the CPU fetches the instruction, its second step is to decode the instruction. By decoding the instruction, the CPU is able to organize the information from the instruction in a manner that allows the CPU to complete the next step, which is executing. During the execution step, the CPU completes the instruction. It accomplishes this by following the information gained during the decoding step. Once the CPU has finished executing the instruction, the final step in this cycle is to write-back the results that occurred during the execution step. The CPU can write-back the results to its own internal register, or to the main memory of the computer.

Tips
What benefit does it (MMX) offer users?
MMX technology raises the PC experience to new levels, when software designed for the technology runs on systems based on the new processor. It delivers 10 to 20 percent more processor performance over Pentium processors at the same clock speed due to the microarchitectural enhancements. Additional performance and/or enhancements in quality of graphics, video and sound may be achieved to the extent that the programmer takes advantage of the technology. On the Intel Media Benchmark, which measures multimedia performance, the processor delivers more than 60 percent performance improvement over Pentium processors at equivalent clock speeds.

Power Supply
New CPUs require higher rating power supply. Hence always ensure that your power supply is rated at 350 W at least.

Cool It!
Invest in good heatsink and fan combination for your processor.

Genuine Article
Always buy Genuine CPU. Check Hologram seal on Intel CPU box. In case of AMD, make sure that the plastic casing is not broken.

Cache That Monkey

If you plan to do CPU intensive tasks such as graphic processing, gaming and animation go for CPU with 256 KB or more of L2 cache. The Pentium 4 Northwood has 512 KB of L2 cache. For gaming applications, go for CPU which supports 3DNow! or SSE.

Palomino
If power requirement and heat dissipation are not an issue, you can go for cheap and affordable Palomino cores.

Save the Money

If you want only basic office applications, you can go for cheap CPU like Cyrix M III processor. This cheap CPU works with any socket 370 motherboard.

High End Users

For high end 3D design and CAD applications, you will require a processor with highest clock speed and the largest on board cache memory. Pentium and Athlon processors are best for such type of applications.

Intel Based System:

CPU Cooling - COOL your CPU first. Then it will perform. Processor cooling is very important from performance and reliability point of view. Always provide good quality cooling fan with high rated heatsink.

Intel Based System:

Extra 12 V Power For Pentium 4 - All Pentium 4 processors require extra 12 volt power supply. Make sure the power supply for new processor has necessary four pin 12 V connector. This connector fits into the ATX 12 V connector on your Motherboard.

Intel Based System:

Hyperthread Technology - Intel's 3.06 GHz processor incorporates Hyperthreading technology which gives better CPU performance when running multiple applications simultaneously.

Intel Based System:

CPU Type - Willamette CPU's are fabricated using 0.18 micron fabrication process. Willamette requires more power and generate more heat. New Northwood CPU's are fabricated using 0.13 micron fabrication process. Northwood CPU's have L2 cache of 512 KB.

Intel Based System:

Intel Drivers - Intel supplies drivers for new 800 series chipsets including 845, 845 - DDR and 850 chipsets called the Intel application accelerator driver. These drivers increase the performance of your IDE devices. They offer better boot times and also surpass 137 GB limitation of the IDE drives in the native Window drivers. SSE2 type of special instructions in Intel CPU's help deliver better performance with certain types of data.

AMD Based System:

CPU Cooling - COOL your CPU first. Then it will perform. Processor cooling is very important from performance and reliability point of view. Always provide good quality cooling fan with high rated heatsink. Use thermal paste for better contact between heatsink and CPU. If by chance you forget to connect the fan supply

and switch on the motherboard, you will damage the AMD CPU with in seconds. Always use CPU heatsink and fan combination that is certified by AMD.

AMD Based System:

Proper Mounting - As bare Silicon is exposed at the top surface in AMD CPU, heatsink installation should be done properly. You should not slide the heatsink on the top surface of CPU. A small scratch or friction may damage CPU.

AMD Based System:

Power Supply - It is always better to go for minimum 300 w power supply for AMD based system.

AMD Based System:

Special Instructions: The 3DNow! instruction set streamline power of certain applications.

AMD Based System:

Memory: You can use SDRAM or DDR memory. SDRAM is cost effective option for basic applications. However for demanding applications ( graphic or high end gaming), go for DDR memory. DDR memory is good for high speed applications.

AMD Based System:

Type of Processor - AMD Duron processors offer reasonably good performance with respect to their price. But as they are phased out, it is better to go for Athlon processor. They are available in old 0.18 micron Palomino and new 0.13 micron Thoroughbred core. New technology requires less power and generates less heat. Not all motherboards support them. Hence always ensure that your motherboard supports new CPU before buying the motherboard. Extra check the motherboard manual.

Did You Know?

The first single chip CPU was the Intel 4004, a 4-bit processor meant for a calculator (not Intel 8086). It processed data in 4 bits, but its instructions were 8 bits long. Program and Data memory were separate, 1K data memory and a 12-bit PC for 4K program memory (in the form of a 4 level stack, used for CALL and RET instructions). There were also sixteen 4-bit (or eight 8-bit) general purpose registers. The 4004 had 46 instructions, using only 2,300 transistors in a 16-pin DIP. It ran at a clock rate of 740kHz (eight clock cycles per CPU cycle of 10.8 microseconds) - the original goal was 1MHz, to allow it to compute BCD arithmetic as fast (per digit) as a 1960's era IBM 1620. The 4040 (1972) was an enhanced version of the 4004, adding 14 instructions, larger (8 level) stack, 8K program space, and interrupt abilities (including shadows of the first 8 registers). Should Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 ever be found by an extraterrestrial species, the 4004 will represent an example of Earth's technology.

Then came Intel 8086 (1978) - This chip was skipped over for the original PC, but was used in a few later computers that didn't amount to much. It was a true 16-bit processor and talked with its cards via a 16 wire data connection. The chip contained 29,000 transistors and 20 address lines that gave it the ability to talk with up to 1 MB of RAM. What is interesting is that the designers of the time never suspected anyone would ever need more than 1 MB of RAM. The chip was available in 5, 6,, 8, and 10 MHz versions.

Intel was not the only manufacturer playing in the sandbox at the time. AMD put out its AM486 series in answer to Intel's counterpart. AMD released the chip in AM486DX4/75, AM486DX4/100, and AM486DX4/120 versions. It contained on-board cache, power management features, 3-volt operation and SMM mode. This made the chip fitting for mobiles in addition to desktops. The chip found its way into many 486-compatibles.

How to partition and format a hard disk by using Windows XP Setup program

View products that this article applies to. This article was previously published under Q313348

To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). For more information, refer to this Microsoft web page: Support is ending for some versions of Windows
On This Page Expand all | Collapse all INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to partition (prepare) and format a hard disk before you install Windows XP using the Windows XP Setup program. This article also contains things to consider before you partition or format your hard disk, and links to resources that can help you troubleshoot if problems occur. This article is intended for an advanced user.

You can use other methods to partition and format the hard disk before you install Windows XP, such as the Fdisk and Format tools. For additional information about how to use Fdisk and Format to partition and format your hard disk, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 255867 How to use the Fdisk tool and the Format tool to partition or to repartition a hard disk If your computer is already running Windows XP, and you want to create partitions other than the System or the Startup partitions, you can use the Windows XP Disk Management tools. For additional information about how to use the Windows XP Disk Management tools to partition and format your hard disk, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 309000 How to use Disk Management to configure basic disks in Windows XP Back to the top MORE INFORMATION

Before you partition and format the hard disk

Before you partition and format your hard disk, make sure that you do the following:

Prepare the hard disk according to the manufacturer's instructions

If you are using a SATA hard disk, skip this step and go to the "Determine the type of file system that you want to use" section. If you are using an IDE hard disk, set the jumpers and the cabling according to the role

of the hard disk (for example, master or subordinate) and make any required BIOS (or CMOS) changes. To set the jumpers and cabling, and make any required BIOS or CMOS changes, see the documentation that was included with your hard disk and motherboard, or contact the manufacturers.

Determine the type of file system that you want to use

You can use either the NTFS or FAT file systems. NTFS is the preferred file system to format the hard disk unless you want to run an earlier version of Windows that cannot read NTFS partitions. For additional information about the differences between the FAT and NTFS file systems, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 100108 Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS file systems 310525 Description of the FAT32 file system in Windows XP

If the hard disk already contains data, back it up

Make sure that you back up all your important data before you continue. When you partition and format a hard disk, all the data on that partition is permanently deleted. You can view current partition information without deleting your data. For additional information about how to use the backup utility or the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 320820 How to use the Backup utility to back up files and folders in Windows XP Home Edition 309340 How to use Backup to restore files and folders on your computer in Windows XP 293118 How to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 306186 How to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard from CD-ROM 306187 How to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Disk in Windows XP

If the hard disk has a drive overlay or a disk management program, make sure that it is compatible
If your computer uses drive overlay software for large hard disk support, do not use the Windows XP Setup program to partition or to format the drive until you have verified that Windows XP is compatible with the software. If you have drive overlay software installed, contact the software manufacturer to find out whether it is compatible with Windows XP. If you are not sure whether you have drive overlay software installed, contact the manufacturer of your hard disk drive or motherboard.

If you have software that you want to reinstall, verify that you have the disks
Make sure that you have the original CDs or floppy disks so that you can reinstall the software programs after you partition and format your drive. If you purchased an upgrade for a program, make sure that you have the full version of the original program. Many upgrades for programs require a compliance check before you can install the upgraded product. If you cannot find the original CDs or floppy disks, contact the software manufacturer before you continue.

If you have updated device drivers for peripheral devices, back them up
If you have installed an updated device driver for your peripheral devices (for example, modems and printers), make sure that you back up the new driver for the device to a location other than the drive that you want to format and partition so that you can reinstall it after you install your operating system.

Configure your computer to start from the CD or DVD drive

To start your computer from the Windows XP CD, your computer must be configured to start from the CD or DVD drive. In some cases, you may have to modify your computer's BIOS settings to set this configuration. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD or DVD drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer.

If you have a computer that cannot start from the CD or DVD drive and you need to start your computer from the startup disk, make sure that you have the floppy setup disks so that you can run the Setup program from the floppy disk drive.

Note You can obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks from Microsoft, but only by download. We provide the Setup boot disks so that you can run the Setup program on computers that cannot use a bootable CD-ROM. If you can start your computer from a CD-ROM or from a network-based installation, we strongly recommend that you use those installation methods instead. Future products will no longer support installation by using the Setup boot disks. Back to the top

How to partition and format the hard disk using the Windows XP Setup program
You can use the Windows XP Setup program to partition and format the hard disk. To do this, use the following steps:

Step 1: Partition the hard disk

a.

Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD or DVD drive, or insert the first Windows XP Setup disk into

the floppy disk drive, and then restart the computer to start the Windows XP Setup program.

Note If you are using the Windows XP Setup disks, insert each additional disk when you are prompted, and then press ENTER to continue after you insert each disk. b. If you are prompted, select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD or DVD drive. c. If your hard disk controller requires a third-party original equipment manufacturer (OEM) driver, press F6 to specify the driver. For more information about how to use F6 to supply a third-party OEM device driver while the Windows Setup program is running, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 314859 Limited OEM driver support is available with F6 during Windows XP Setup

d.

At the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER.

Note If you are using the Setup disks (six bootable disks), the setup prompts you to insert the Windows XP CD. e. f. Press F8 to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. To bypass the repair, press ESC.

g.

All existing partitions and non-partitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard disk. Use the ARROW keys to select an existing partition, or create a new partition by selecting the non-partitioned space where you want to create a new partition. You can also press C to create a new partition using non-partitioned space.

Note If you want to create a partition where one or more partitions already exist, you must first delete the existing partition or partitions, and then create the new partition. You can press D to delete an existing partition, and then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this step for each existing partition that you want to include in the new partition. When all the partitions are deleted, select the remaining non-partitioned space, and then press C to create the new partition. h. To create the partition with the maximum size, press ENTER. To specify the partition size, type the size in megabytes (MB) for the new partition, and then press ENTER. i. If you want to create additional partitions, repeat steps g. and h. To format the partition and install Windows XP, go to step 2.

j.

If you do not want to install Windows XP, press F3 two times to exit the Windows Setup program, and then do not follow the remaining steps in this article.

To format the partition without installing Windows XP, use a different utility.

Step 2: Format the hard disk and install Windows XP

a. ENTER. b. Select the format option that you want to use to format the partition. You can select from the following options: Use the ARROW keys to select the partition where you want to install Windows XP, and then press

o Format the partition by using the NTFS file system (Quick) o Format the partition by using the FAT file system (Quick) o Format the partition by using the NTFS file system o Format the partition by using the FAT file system o Leave the current file system intact (no changes)
Notes

o If the selected partition is a new partition, the option to leave the current file system intact
is not available.

o If the selected partition is larger than 32 gigabytes (GB), the FAT file system option is not
available.

o If the selected partition is larger than 2 GB, the Windows Setup program uses the FAT32 file
system (you must press ENTER to confirm).

o If the partition is smaller than 2 GB, the Windows Setup program uses the FAT16 file
system.

o If you deleted and created a new System partition, but you are installing Windows XP on a
different partition, you are prompted to select a file system for both the System and Startup partitions. c. d. Press ENTER.

After the Windows Setup program formats the partition, follow the instructions that appear on the screen to install Windows XP. After the Windows Setup program is finished and you have restarted the computer, you can use the Disk Management tools in Windows XP to create or format more partitions. For additional information about how to use the Windows XP Disk Management tools to partition and format your hard disk, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 309000 How to use Disk Management to configure basic disks in Windows XP

Back to the top

Additional notes
Before you can install an operating system such as Windows XP, you must first create a primary partition on the first physical hard disk (Disk 0) on your computer. Then, you can format a file system on that partition to create what is called the System partition.

Or, you can create a separate partition for the operating system on any physical hard disk. This is known as the Startup partition. The System partition on Disk 0 can also be used as a Startup partition.