PC Hardware: A Beginner's Guide

by Ron Gilster

Ideal for PC owners looking for an accessible,easy-to-follow reference,this beginner's guide to PC hardware offers expert advice on every component—processors,motherboards,memory,BIOS,CD-ROM and DVD drives,video cards,and much more. You'll also get details on external devices,including monitors,printers,keyboards,and modems. The book covers both Intel and non-Intel CPUs and USB and AGP ports.

Learn how your PC works—and what to do when it doesn't Understand the function of each component of your PC and learn how they all work together. PC Hardware: A Beginner's Guide first introduces you to the underlying principles of the PC,such as digital logic and electronics,then covers internal components,including GHz processors,high-speed data buses,and DVD drives. Next,you'll get details on external components—monitors,printers,keyboards,mice,modems,and more. The final section explains how to troubleshoot your PC,detect viruses,make repairs,and optimize your system.

Become familiar with your PC's motherboard components,including the CPU,chipset,cache,and memory Learn how the chipset enables communication among all the motherboard devices Maximize existing memory capacity and install more RAM Add expansion cards to enhance graphics,video,and sound Configure system resources for maximum efficiency Protect your PC from power fluctuations using surge suppressors and UPC devices Select the best monitor and printer for your needs Connect to a network—dialup,local area network (LAN),wide area network (WAN),the Internet,or a wireless network Troubleshoot,maintain,and upgrade your PC

651 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2001