For 25 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 21st edition offers beefed-up coverage of the newest hardware innovations and maintenance techniques, plus more than two hours of new DVD video.   Scott Mueller delivers practical answers about PC processors, mother-boards, buses, BIOSes, memory, SSD and HDD 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 3rd generation Ivy Bridge Core i-Series processors and AMD’s 2nd generation Trinity 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, and Windows 8 compatible multi-touch touchscreen technology Updated PCI Express 3.0, 4.0 interfaces, and Power Supply specifications for powering high-end video cards Emerging interfaces such as SATA Express, 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 2 hours 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 motherboards, solid-state drives, and more.   You will see a detailed tour of a modern high-performance motherboard, showing all the components from the processor socket and CPU voltage regulators to the audio and network chipsets, and more. You’ll learn how all the devices on the board are interconnected, so you can more easily understand their importance. There is a detailed segment comparing solid-state drives (SSDs) to conventional hard disk drives (HDDs), explaining all the differences and similarities between them in an easy to understand fashion. Finally, there are several segments on building a state-of-the art system from scratch using a high-performance overclockable motherboard and processor combination. You’ll see tips on how to best prepare the components, how to assemble the system properly, how to make the front panel connections much easier to deal with, and finally how to route the cables for maximum airflow and ease of future upgrades or repairs.   This DVD also contains the complete 19th and 20th editions of this book in printable form, plus extensive technical reference material, a comprehensive glossary, and more!     

Table of Contents:
  Introduction 1 1 Development of the PC 5 Computer History: Before Personal Computers 5   Timeline 5   Electronic Computers 10 Modern Computers 10   From Tubes to Transistors 11   Integrated Circuits 13 History of the PC 14   Birth of the Personal Computer 14   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 26 System Types 26 System Components 28 3 Processor Types and Specifications 29 Microprocessor History 29   The First Microprocessor 29   PC Processor Evolution 32   16-Bit to 64-Bit Architecture Evolution 34 Processor Specifications 35   Data I/O Bus 42   Address Bus 42   Internal Registers (Internal Data Bus) 44   Processor Modes 44   Processor Benchmarks 49   Comparing Processor Performance 49   Cache Memory 53 Processor Features 60   System Management Mode (SMM) 60   Superscalar Execution 61   MMX Technology 62   Dynamic Execution 64   Dual Independent Bus Architecture 65   HT Technology 65   Multicore Technology 66   Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Support 68 Processor Manufacturing 69   Processor Re-Marking 74   PGA Chip Packaging 74   Single Edge Contact and Single Edge Processor Packaging 75 Processor Socket and Slot Types 75   Socket 478 78   Socket LGA775 79   Socket LGA1156 80   Socket LGA1366 81   Socket LGA1155 82   Socket LGA2011 83   Socket 939 and 940 83   Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+ 84   Socket F (1207FX) 86   Socket FM1 86   Socket FM2 86 CPU Operating Voltages 87 Math Coprocessors (Floating-Point Units) 87 Processor Bugs and Steppings 88 Processor Code Names 88 P1 (086) Processors 89 P2 (286) Processors 90 P3 (386) Processors 91 P4 (486) Processors 92 P5 (586) Processors 93   AMD-K5 96 Intel P6 (686) Processors 96   Pentium Pro Processors 97   Pentium II Processors 97   Pentium III 99   Celeron 100 Intel Pentium 4 Processors 101   Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 104   Intel Pentium D and Pentium Extreme Edition 106 Intel Core Processors 108   Intel Core 2 Family 108   Intel (Nehalem) Core i Processors 110 AMD K6 Processors 114   NexGen Nx586 114   AMD-K6 Series 116 AMD K7 Processors 117   AMD Athlon 117   AMD Duron 118   AMD Athlon XP 118   Athlon MP 120 AMD K8 Processors 120   AMD Athlon 64 and 64 FX 120   AMD Sempron 124   AMD Athlon X2, 64 X2, and 64 FX 125 AMD K10 Processors (Phenom, Phenom II, Athlon II, Athlon X2, Sempron) 126 AMD “Bulldozer” and “Piledriver” FX Processors 128 AMD Fusion/HSA (Heterogeneous Systems Architecture) APUs 131 Processor Upgrades 132 Overclocking 133   Quartz Crystals 134   Modern PC Clocks 136   Overclocking Tips 138   Unlocking Cores 139   Bus Speeds and Multipliers 140 Processor Cooling 142   Heatsinks 143   Liquid Cooling 148   Thermally Advantaged Chassis 149 Processor Troubleshooting Techniques 151 4 Motherboards and Buses 155 Motherboard Form Factors 155   Obsolete Form Factors 156   ATX and Other Modern Form Factors 167 Processor Sockets/Slots 178 Chipsets 181   Chipset Evolution 181   Intel Chipsets 183   Intel Chipset Model Numbers 184   Intel Integrated Graphics Architecture 185   AMD Integrated Graphics Architecture 185   Traditional North/South Bridge Architecture 185   Hub Architecture 187   HyperTransport and Other Processor/Chipset Interconnects 188 Intel’s Early 386/486 Chipsets 190 Fifth-Generation (P5 Pentium Class) Chipsets 190 Sixth-Generation (P6 Pentium Pro/II/III Class) Chipsets 192 Seventh/Eighth-Generation (Pentium 4/D, Core2, and Core i) Chipsets 195   Intel 915 Family 202   Intel 925X Family 203   Intel 945 Express Family 203   Intel 955X and 975X Family 204   Intel 96x Series 204   Intel 3x and 4x Series Chipsets 205   Intel 5x Series Chipsets 208   Intel 6x Series Chipsets 211   Intel 7x Series Chipsets 213 Third-Party Chipsets for Intel Processors 215   SiS Chipsets 215   ULi Electronics Chipsets 215   ATI Chipsets 216   VIA Chipsets 216   NVIDIA Chipsets for Intel Processors 216 Chipsets for AMD Processors 217 AMD Athlon Chipsets 217 AMD Athlon 64 Chipsets 218   AMD 8000 (8151) Chipset 219      AMD (Formerly ATI) Chipsets for Athlon 64, Sempron, Phenom 220   Third-Party Chipsets for AMD Processors 226   VIA Chipsets 226   SiS Chipsets 227   NVIDIA Chipsets 227 Super I/O Chips 228 Motherboard Connectors 228 System Bus Types, Functions, and Features 239   The Processor Bus (FSB) 245 Types of I/O Buses 245   The ISA Bus 245   The Micro Channel Bus 246   The EISA Bus 246   Local Buses (VESA, PCI, PCI Express, AGP) 246 System Resources 254   Interrupts 254   DMA Channels 259   I/O Port Addresses 259 Motherboard Selection Criteria (Knowing What to Look For) 260   Chipset Documentation 262 5 BIOS 263 BIOS Basics 263 Motherboard ROM BIOS 267   ROM Hardware 267   ROM Shadowing 269   ROM Chip Types 269   ROM BIOS Manufacturers 273   BIOS Hardware/Software 274 Upgrading the BIOS 274   Where to Get Your BIOS Update 275   Determining Your BIOS Version 275   Checking the BIOS Date 275   Backing Up Your BIOS 276   Backing Up Your BIOS Setup (CMOS RAM) Settings 276   Upgrading a Flash BIOS 277   Motherboard CMOS RAM Addresses 285 Preboot Environment 287 Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) 289   UEFI and BIOS Limitations 290   UEFI Support 291 BIOS Setup 292   Running or Accessing the BIOS Setup Program 292   BIOS Setup Menus 292   Maintenance Menu 293   Main Menu 294      Advanced Menus 295   Security Menu 311   Power Menu 312   Boot Menu (Boot Sequence, Order) 314   Exit Menu 315   Additional BIOS Setup Features 316 PnP BIOS 317   PnP Device IDs 318   ACPI 318 BIOS/MBR Error Messages 319   BIOS Boot Error Messages 320   MBR Boot Error Messages 322 6 Memory 325 Memory Basics 325   ROM 327   DRAM 327   Cache Memory: SRAM 329 Memory Standards 331 Speed and Performance 332   Fast Page Mode DRAM 335   Extended Data Out RAM 336   SDRAM 337   DDR SDRAM 338   DDR2 SDRAM 340   DDR3 SDRAM 342   DDR4 SDRAM 344   RDRAM 345 Memory Modules 346   Registered Modules 351   SDR DIMM Details 352   DDR DIMM Details 353   DDR2 DIMM Details 353   DDR3 DIMM Details 353 Determining a Memory Module’s Size and Features 354 Memory Banks 356 Memory Module Speed 357 Parity and ECC 357   Parity Checking 359   How Parity Checking Works 359   ECC 360 RAM Upgrades 361   Upgrade Options and Strategies 362   Purchasing Memory 364   Replacing Modules with Higher-Capacity Versions 366   Installing Memory Modules 366 Troubleshooting Memory 368 Memory Defect Isolation Procedures 372 The System Logical Memory Layout 374 7 The ATA/IDE Interface 377 An Overview of the IDE Interface 377   Precursors to IDE 377   IDE Origins 378   Origins of ATA 379 ATA Standards 380   ATA-1 (ATA Interface for Disk Drives) 382   ATA-2 (ATA Interface with Extensions-2) 382   ATA-3 (ATA Interface-3) 383   ATA/ATAPI-4 (ATA with Packet Interface Extension-4) 383   ATA/ATAPI-5 (ATA with Packet Interface-5) 384   ATA/ATAPI-6 (ATA with Packet Interface-6) 385   ATA/ATAPI-7 (ATA with Packet Interface-7) 386   ATA/ATAPI-8 386 PATA 387   PATA I/O Connector 387   PATA I/O Cable 390   Longer or Rounded Cables 392   PATA Signals 392   PATA Dual-Drive Configurations 393   PATA PIO Transfer Modes 396   PATA DMA Transfer Modes 396 SATA 398   SATA Standards and Performance 398   SATA Express 399   SATA Cables and Connectors 401   eSATA 404   SATA Configuration 407   Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) 408   Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) 409   SATA Transfer Modes 409 ATA Features 410   ATA Commands 410   ATA Security Mode 411   Host Protected Area 412   ATAPI 413 ATA Drive Capacity Limitations 413   Prefixes for Decimal and Binary Multiples 414   BIOS Limitations 415   CHS Versus LBA 416   CHS/LBA and LBA/CHS Conversions 417   BIOS Commands Versus ATA Commands 418   CHS Limitations (the 528MB Barrier) 419   CHS Translation (Breaking the 528MB Barrier) 421   The 2.1GB and 4.2GB Barriers 423   LBA-Assist Translation 425   The 8.4GB Barrier 427   The 137GB Barrier and Beyond 429   Operating System and Other Software Limitations 430 GPT and the 2.2TB Barrier 432 PATA/SATA RAID 434 Software RAID 436 8 Magnetic Storage Principles 439 Magnetic Storage 439 History of Magnetic Storage 439 How Magnetic Fields Are Used to Store Data 440 Read/Write Head Designs 443   Ferrite 444   Metal-In-Gap 444   Thin-Film 444   Magneto-Resistive Heads 445   Giant Magneto-Resistive Heads 446 Head Sliders 448 Data-Encoding Schemes 450   Frequency Modulation Encoding 451   Modified FM Encoding 451   Run Length Limited Encoding 452   Encoding Scheme Comparisons 453   Partial-Response, Maximum-Likelihood Decoders 455 Capacity Measurements 455 Areal Density 456 Perpendicular Magnetic Recording 458 9 Hard Disk Storage 461 Definition of a Hard Disk 461 Hard Drive Advancements 462 Form Factors 463   5 1/4-Inch Drive 464   3 1/2-Inch Drive 465   2 1/2-Inch Drive 465   1.8-Inch Drive 466   1-Inch Drives 466 HDD Operation 466   The Ultimate HDD Analogy 469   Tracks and Sectors 470   ECC 472   Disk Formatting 477 Basic HDD Components 482      Hard Disk Platters (Disks) 483   Recording Media 484   Read/Write Heads 485   Head Actuator Mechanisms 487   Air Filters 494   Hard Disk Temperature Acclimation 495   Spindle Motors 495   Logic Boards 496  Cables and Connectors 497   Configuration Items 497 Hard Disk Features 498   Capacity 498   Performance 500   Reliability 504 10 Flash and Removable Storage 507 Alternative Storage Devices 507 Flash Memory Devices 507   CompactFlash 509   SmartMedia 509   MultiMediaCard 510   SecureDigital 510   Sony Memory Stick 510   ATA Flash PC Card 511   xD-Picture Card 511   SSD (Solid-State Drive) 511   USB Flash Drives 516   Comparing Flash Memory Devices 517   SD Cards Speed Class and UHS Speed Class Markings 519   File Systems Used by Flash Memory 520   Flash Card Readers 520   Card Readers 520   ReadyBoost Support 521 Cloud-Based Storage 522 Floppy Disk Drives 523 Tape Drives 523 11 Optical Storage 525 Optical Technology 525 CD-Based Optical Technology 526   CDs: A Brief History 526   CD Construction and Technology 527   Mass-Producing CDs 527      Writable CDs 539   MultiRead Specifications 545   MultiPlay and MultiAudio 547 DVD 547   DVD History 548   DVD Construction and Technology 549   DVD Tracks and Sectors 550   Handling DVD Errors 554   DVD Capacity (Sides and Layers) 555   Data Encoding on the DVD Disc 558   Recordable DVD Standards 559   Multiformat Rewritable DVD Drives 566 BD 567 HD-DVD 569 Optical Disc Formats 570   CD Formats 570   DVD Formats and Standards 578   Optical Disc File Systems 582 Ripping/Copying Discs 587   “For Music Use Only” CD-R/RW Discs 588   CD Copy Protection 588   CD Digital Rights Management 589   DVD and Blu-ray Copy Protection 589 Optical Drive Performance Specifications 593   CD Data Transfer Rate 593   CD Drive Speed 593   DVD Drive Speed 595   Access Time 598   Buffer/Cache 598   Direct Memory Access and Ultra-DMA 598   Interface 598   Loading Mechanism 599   Other Drive Features 600 How to Reliably Record Optical Discs 600   Booting from a Floppy Disk with Optical Drive Support 601   Bootable Optical Discs—El Torito 601   LightScribe and LabelFlash 602 Troubleshooting Optical Drives 602   Caring for Optical Media 606   Updating the Firmware in an Optical Drive 607 12 Video Hardware 609 Display Adapters and Monitors 609 Video Display Adapters 610   Video Adapter Types 610  Integrated Video/Motherboard Chipsets 611   CPUs with Integrated Video 616   Video Adapter Components 617   Identifying the Video and System Chipsets 619   Video RAM 620   The DAC 624 Video Display Interfaces 624   The System Interface 624   The Display Interface 626   TV Display Interfaces 641 3D Graphics Accelerators 642   How 3D Accelerators Work 642   APIs 645   Dual-GPU Scene Rendering 648 Monitors 650   Display Specifications 650   LCD Technology 661   LED Backlit Technology 663   CRT Display Technology 663   Plasma Display Technology 665   LCD and DLP Projectors 666 Using Multiple Monitors 667   Dualview 667   Homogeneous Adapters 668   Heterogeneous Adapters 668 Choosing the Best Display Hardware for a Particular Task 668 Video Troubleshooting and Maintenance 669   Troubleshooting Video Cards and Drivers 670   Video Drivers 672   Maintaining Monitors 672   Testing Monitors 673   Adjusting Monitors 674   Bad Pixels 675   Troubleshooting Monitors 676   Repairing Monitors 677 13 Audio Hardware 679 Audio Hardware Concepts and Terms 680   The Nature of Sound 680   Evaluating the Quality of Your Audio Hardware 680   Sampling 681 Early PC Sound Cards 682   Limitations of Sound Blaster Pro Compatibility 682   Microsoft Windows and Audio Support 682   DirectX and Audio Support Hardware 683   Core Audio APIs for Windows 683   3D Gaming Audio Standards 684   Legacy Audio Support Through Virtualization 685 Audio Hardware Features 686   Basic Connectors 686   Audio Signal Processing Methods 688      Advanced Audio Features 688   Volume Control 690   MIDI Support Features 691   Data Compression 692   Sound Drivers 693   Sound Cards for Sound Producers 693 Motherboard Chipsets with Integrated Audio 694   Intel “Azalia” HD Audio 694 Troubleshooting PC Audio Problems 694   Sound Card and Onboard Audio Problems 695 Speakers 698   Speaker Selection Criteria 698   Theater and Surround Sound Considerations 699 Microphones 700 14 External I/O Interfaces 703 Introduction to Input/Output Ports 703   Serial Versus Parallel 703   Universal Serial Bus (USB) 704   IEEE 1394 (FireWire or i.LINK) 718   Comparing USB and IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 722 Thunderbolt Technology 728 Low-Speed External Connections 729   Serial Ports 730   Parallel Ports 734 15 Input Devices  739 Keyboards 739   Enhanced 101-Key Keyboard 739   103/104-Key Windows Keyboard 740 Keyboard Technology 742   Keyswitch Design 742   The Keyboard Interface 747   Typematic Functions 749   Keyboard Scan Codes 749   International Keyboard Layouts 750   Keyboard/Mouse Interface Connectors 751   USB Keyboards 753   Keyboards with Special Features 754 Keyboard Troubleshooting and Repair 754   Cleaning a Keyboard 755 Keyboard Recommendations 756 Pointing Devices 757   Mouse Sensitivity 758   Ball-Type Mice 758   Optical Mice 759   Pointing Device Interface Types 760   Scroll Wheels 762   Mouse Troubleshooting 764   Cleaning Your Mouse 765   Alternative Pointing Devices 765 Touchscreen Technology 770 Wireless Input Devices 771   Power Management Features of Wireless Input Devices 772   Troubleshooting Wireless Input Devices 773 16 Internet Connectivity 775 Internet Connectivity Trends 775 Broadband Internet Access Types 775   Cable TV 776   Digital Subscriber Line 779  Wireless Broadband 783   Cellular Broadband 3G and 4G Services 783   Satellite Broadband 784   ISDN 787   Leased Lines 788   Comparing High-Speed Internet Access 789 Dial-Up Modems 790   56Kbps Modems 791 Internet Connection Security 794   Having a Backup Plan in Case of Service Interruptions 795   Sharing Your Internet Connection 795   Routers for Internet Sharing 796   Modem/Router Status LEDs 797 17 Local Area Networking 799 Defining a Network 799   Types of Networks 800   Requirements for a Network 801 Client/Server Versus Peer Networks 801   Client/Server Networks 802   Peer-to-Peer Networks 803   Comparing Client/Server and Peer-to-Peer Networks 804 Network Architecture Overview 804   Wired Ethernet 806   Wireless Ethernet 807   Bluetooth 813 Hardware Elements of Your Network 814   NICs for Wired Ethernet Networks 814   Network Cables for Wired Ethernet 816   Wired Network Topologies 824   Switches for Ethernet Networks 827   Wireless Ethernet Hardware 831 Network Protocols 836   IP and TCP/IP 836   IPX and NetBEUI 837 Other Home Networking Solutions 838   HomePNA 838   Power Line Networking 839 Putting Your Network Together 840   Network Adapters 840   Cables and Connections Between Computers 842   Switch/Access Point 842 18 Power Supplies 845 The Power Supply 845 Primary Function and Operation 845   Voltage Rails 846   The Power Good Signal 848 Power Supply Form Factors 849   Modern Form Factors 852 Power Switches 866   ATX and Newer 866   PC/XT/AT and LPX Power Switches 868 Motherboard Power Connectors 870   AT/LPX Power Supply Connectors 870   ATX and ATX12V Motherboard Power Connectors 872   Backward and Forward Compatibility 885   Dell Proprietary (Nonstandard) ATX Design 887 Additional Power Connectors 887   Peripheral Power Connectors 887   Floppy Power Connectors 888   Serial ATA Power Connectors 889   PCI Express Auxiliary Graphics Power Connectors 890 Power Supply Specifications 893   Power Supply Loading 893      Power Supply Ratings 895   Other Power Supply Specifications 896   Power Factor Correction 898   SLI-Ready and CrossFireX Certifications 900   Safety Certifications 900 Power-Use Calculations 901 Power Savings 903   80 Plus 903   ENERGY STAR 904   Advanced Power Management 904   Advanced Configuration and Power Interface 905 Power Cycling 908 Power Supply Troubleshooting 911   Overloaded Power Supplies 912   Inadequate Cooling 913   Using Digital Multimeters 913   Specialized Test Equipment 916 Power Supply Recommendations 918   Modular Cables 919   Sources for Replacement Power Supplies 919 Power-Protection Systems 919   Surge Suppressors (Protectors) 921   Network and Phone Line Surge Protectors 922   Line Conditioners 922   Backup Power 922 Real-Time Clock/Nonvolatile RAM (CMOS RAM) Batteries 925   Modern CMOS Batteries 925   Obsolete or Unique CMOS Batteries 927   CMOS Battery Troubleshooting 928 19 Building or Upgrading Systems 929 System Components 929   Before You Start: How to Decide What to Build 931   Case and Power Supply 933   Processor 934   Motherboard 935      Memory 936   I/O Ports 937   Hard Disk/Solid-State Drives 938   Removable Storage 939   Input Devices 939   Video Card and Display 940   Audio Hardware 940   Accessories 941 Hardware and Software Resources 942 System Assembly and Disassembly 942   Assembly Preparation 943   Installing the CPU and Heatsink 946   Installing Memory Modules 952   Mounting the New Motherboard in the Case 953   Preparing a Modular Power Supply 958   Connecting the Power Supply 958   Connecting I/O and Other Cables to the Motherboard 961   Installing the Drives 962   Installing a Video Card 967   Installing Additional Expansion Cards 969   Replacing the Cover and Connecting External Cables 969 System Startup 969 Installing the OS 971 Troubleshooting New Installations 972 20 PC Diagnostics, Testing, and Maintenance 975 PC Diagnostics 975 Diagnostics Software 975   The POST 976   Peripheral Diagnostics 989   Operating System Diagnostics 989   Commercial Diagnostics Software 990   Free/User Supported Diagnostics 991 The Boot Process 991   The Hardware Boot Process: Operating System Independent 992   The DOS Boot Process 996   The Windows 9x/Me Boot Process 997   Windows 2000/XP Startup 997   Windows Vista/7 Startup 998   Windows 8 Startup 998 PC Maintenance Tools 999   Hand Tools 1000   Safety 1003   Test Equipment 1004   Special Tools for the Enthusiast 1009 Preventive Maintenance 1011   Active Preventive Maintenance Procedures 1011   Passive Preventive Maintenance Procedures 1016 Troubleshooting Tips and Techniques 1021   Repair or Replace? 1021   Basic Troubleshooting Steps 1021   Troubleshooting by Replacing Parts 1022   Troubleshooting by the Bootstrap Approach 1023   Problems During the POST 1024   Problems Running Software 1024   Problems with Adapter Cards 1025   Top Troubleshooting Problems 1025 9780789750006, ToC, 2/18/2013