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A-Link architecture,
a-Si (hydrogenated amorphour silicon),
abacus,
ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer),
ABIT Computers,
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Security, Spam, and Spyware
AC adapters,
AC power switches,
AC ripple,
AC'97 integrated audio,
Accelerated Graphics Port buses [See AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) buses,.]
accelerated hub interface (AHA) hubs,
acceleration,
access points,
access times
     CD/DVD drives
     hard disk drives
accessibility, voice-dictation software,
acclimating to temperatures (hard disk drives),
Accupoint pointing device,
Acer America,
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) 2nd 3rd
active backplane systems,
active heatsinks, 2nd 3rd
active PFC (power factor correction),
active preventative maintenance,
     cleaning
         boards
         brushes
         chemical-freeze sprays
         cleaning supply companies
         compressed air
         connectors
         contact cleaners/lubricants
         contacts
         disassembly
         disassembly and cleaning tools
         erasers
         keyboards
         mouse devices
         silicone lubricants
         standard chemical cleaners
         swabs
         vacuum cleaners
     hard disk drives
         file defragmentation
         Maintenance Wizard
         virus checking
     reseating socketed chips
     system backups
     tool/supply vendors
active-matrix LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors,
actuator mechanisms (heads)
     automatic head parking
     comparison of
     servo mechanisms
         dedicated servo
         disk sweep
         embedded servo
         gray code
         servowriters
         thermal recalibration
         wedge servo
     stepper motors
     voice-coil actuators
         closed loop feedback mechanism
         linear
         rotary
         track following systems
Adaptec, 2nd
adapters [See also 3D graphics,; controllers.]
     2 1/2" ATA drive cables and adapters
     AC adapters
     audio adapters (sound cards)
         3D audio
         Aureal
         AV-710
         buying tips
         CA0102 (Audigy 2)
         CA0102-ICT (Audigy 2 ZS)
         CA0186
         CAO185
         comparison of features
         connectors
         data compression
         DirectX
         discontinued sound cards
         drivers
         DSPs (digital signal processors)
         DVD support
         EMU-8000
         EMU10K1
         EMU10K2 (Audigy)
         Ensoniq ES137x series
         frequency response
         game playing
         history of
         installing
         integrated audio chipsets
         manufacturers
         MIDI support
         monophonic/stereophonic
         Philips
         resource conflicts
         sampling
         SNR (signal-to-noise ratio)
         Sound Blaster
         Sound Blaster Audigy
         Sound Blaster Pro
         sound production features
         sound properties
         speaker connections
         stereo system connections
         total harmonic distortion
         troubleshooting
         USB-based audio processors
         Vibra-16
         voice control
         volume control
         X-Fi (Extreme Fidelity)
         Yamaha
     BIOS
     data transfer cables and adapters
     expansion cards
     host adapters
     integrated adapters
     multiple-COM-port adapters
     NICs (network interface cards)
         bus types
         connectors
         costs
         diagnostic software
         full-duplex
         half-duplex
         installation
         memory
         speed
         testing
         Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)
     PCI (Peripheral Connect Interface) buses
     PS/2 Y adapter
     SCSI (small computer system interface)
         diagnostic software
         resource conflicts
     troubleshooting 2nd
     Type II PC Card adapters
     USB (universal serial bus)
     USB/FireWire cable adapter
     video adapters 2nd [See also 3D graphics,.]
         24-bit mode
         32-bit mode
         3D chipsets 2nd
         analog signals
         APIs (application programming interfaces)
         BIOS 2nd 3rd 4th
         buses 2nd
         buying tips
         chipsets
         comparison of
         components
         configuring
         defined
         desktop video boards
         digital signals
         dual-GPU scene rendering
         installation
         memory
         multiple monitors
         obsolete adapters
         RAMDAC (digital-to-analog converter)
         removing
         replacing
         resource conflicts
         SVGA (Super VGA)
         television/computer signal comparison
         testing
         troubleshooting 2nd 3rd
         TV tuners
         UMA (unified memory architecture)
         upgrading
         VGA (Video Graphics Array)
         video BIOS
         video capture devices 2nd
         video drivers
         video RAM
         video-output adapters
         warranties
Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM),
ADCs (analog-to-digital converters),
additional boot devices,
address buses,
     8086 processors
     Pentium processors
ADDRESS MARK sector data,
addressable memory
     286 processors
     386 processors
     386SX processors
     486DX processors
     Pentium processors
addresses
     CMOS RAM 2nd
     port addresses
         bus-based device port addresses
         chipset-based device port addresses
         motherboard-based device port addresses
         parallel ports
         USB ports
     storing
addressing sectors
     CHS (cylinder head sector)
         137GB barrier
         2.1GB barrier
         4.2GB barrier
         528MB barrier
         8.4GB barrier
         ATA CHS parameter limits
         BIOS CHS parameter limits
         BIOS commands
         CHS bit-shift translation
         combined parameter limits
         compared to LBA (logical block address)
         converting to LBA (logical block address)
         LBA-assist translation
         Standard CHS
     LBA (logical block address)
         BIOS commands
         compared to CHS (cylinder head sector)
         converting to CHS (cylinder head sector)
         LBA-assist translation
     prefixes for decimal/binary multiples
Adesso mechanical-switch keyboards,
AdLib sound cards,
ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation),
ADR (advanced digital recording),
ADSL (asymmetric DSL),
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), 2nd 3rd
Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI),
advanced intelligent tape (AIT), 2nd
Advanced Lossless Data Compression (ALDC),
Advanced menu (BIOS Setup),
     ATA Configuration submenu
     Boot Configuration menu submenu
     Event Logging submenu
     Fan Control Configuration submenu
     Floppy Configuration submenu
     PCI Configuration menu submenu
     Peripheral Configuration submenu
     PnP Configuration submenu
     Resource Configuration submenu
     USB Configuration submenu
     Video Configuration submenu
Advanced Power Management (APM), 2nd
advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC), 2nd
Advanced Run Length Limited (ARLL),
Advanced Technology (AT) computers,
advanced-technology PC (AT-class) systems
     bus designs
     compared to 8-bit systems
     expansion slots
AFC (antiferromagnetically coupled) media, 2nd
aftermarket diagnostic software,
AGC (automatic gain control) circuitry,
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) buses, 2nd 3rd 4th
AGP Aperture Size setting (BIOS),
AGP Hardware Detected setting (BIOS),
AHA (accelerated hub interface) hubs,
AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface),
air bearing heads,
air filters,
AIT (advanced intelligent tape), 2nd
Aladdin P4 (M1671) chipsets,
Aladdin Pro 4 chipsets,
Aladdin Pro 5 chipsets,
Aladdin Pro II chipsets,
Aladdin TNT2 chipsets,
ALDC (Advanced Lossless Data Compression),
Alderwood (925X) chipsets,
algorithms, ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation),
ALi [See ULi chipsets.]
alignment of read/write heads,
All-in-Wonder series,
allocation units, 2nd
alpha particles,
ALPS Electric
     Glidepoint pointing device
     mechanical keyswitches
Altair kit,
alternative pointing devices
     Ergonomic Mouse
     GlidePoint
     trackballs
alternators,
Alto computers,
aluminum
     aluminum foil
     aluminum/magnesium alloy platters
     in hard disks
Am5x86(TM)-P75 processors,
Amazon.com,
AMD
     AMDClock
     chipsets
         AMD-750 2nd
         AMD-760 2nd
         AMD-760MP
         AMD-760MPX
         AMD-8000 (8151)
         reference table
     contact information
     CPUInfo
     P-Ratings
     processors
         Am5x86(TM)-P75
         Athlon 2nd
         Athlon 64
         Athlon 64 FX
         Athlon 64 X2
         Athlon MP
         Athlon XP
         codenames
         dual-core Opteron
         Duron 2nd
         Intel-compatible
         K5
         K6 2nd
         Opteron 2nd
         specifications
     Sempron (Socket 754)
     Sempron (Socket A)
AMDClock,
America Online,
American Power Conversion,
AMI (American Megatrends, Inc.)
     contact information
     ROM BIOS
         BIOS ID string
         diagnostics
         documentation
         POST (power on self test) error codes
AMIDiag Suite,
amorphous state,
amplification,
amplitude,
AMR (anistropic magneto-resistant) read/write heads,
AMR (Audio Modem Riser),
analog joysticks,
analog meters,
analog modems [See dial-up modems.]
analog protection system (APS),
analog signals,
analog-to-digital converters (ADCs),
Analytical Engine,
Andromeda Research Labs,
angle boards,
animation,
anistropic magneto-resistant (AMR) read/write heads,
antialiasing,
antiferromagnetically coupled (AFC) media, 2nd
antivirus software,
AOpen TubeSound,
aperture grille picture tubes,
aperture,
APIC (advanced programmable interrupt controller), 2nd
APIs (application programming interfaces), 2nd
APM (Advanced Power Management), 2nd
Apollo
     KT133 chipsets
     KT133A chipsets
     KT266 chipsets
     KT266A chipsets
     KT333 chipsets
     KT400/KM400 chipsets
     KT400A chipsets
     KT600 chipsets
     KX133 chipsets
     P4X266 chipsets
     P4X400 chipsets
     P4X400A chipsets
     P4X533 chipsets
apparent power,
Apple
     Apple I computers
     Apple II computers
     compatibles
     contact information
     HFS (Hierarchical File System)
     history of 2nd
     licensing
     Lisa computers
     Macintosh
     Macintosh compatibles
     QuickTime Pro
     shift to Intel x86 processors
Apple I computers,
Apple II computers,
Application key,
application programming interfaces (APIs), 2nd
APS (analog protection system),
arbitrated buses,
archiving to tape drives,
     ADR (advanced digital recording)
     advantages of
     AIT (advanced intelligent tape) 2nd
     alternatives to
     backup software
     capacity
     choosing
     comparison of
     costs
     DAT (digital audio tape) 2nd
     data throughput
     disadvantages of
     disaster recovery
     DLT (digital linear tape)
     helical scan recording
     installation
     LTO (Linear Tape-Open)
     QIC
     QIC-Wide
     SLR drives
     software compatibility
     standards
     summary of standards
     tape compatibility
     tape retensioning
     Travan
     troubleshooting
     VXA drives 2nd
areal density
     defined
     increasing
     pixie dust technology
     superparamagnetic effect
ARLL (Advanced Run Length Limited),
ARPAnet,
assembling systems, 2nd
     BIOS Setup program
     cables
     cases
         cover assembly
         desktop
         form factors
         mini-tower
         mounting motherboards in
         tower
     CD-ROM drives
     cooling fans
         bay-mounted fans
         built-in fans
     documentation of physical configuration
     ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection
     expansion cards
     external cables
     floppy disk drives 2nd
     hard disk drives
         buying tips
         capacity
         installation
     hardware resources
     heatsinks
         active heatsinks
         passive heatsinks
     input devices
     miscellaneous hardware
     monitors
     motherboards
         BIOS (basic input/output system)
         cables
         chipsets
         Desktop Form Factors website
         integrated adapters
         jumpers
         memory 2nd
         mounting in case
         ports
         processors 2nd
     operating system installation
         CD-ROM drivers
         device drivers
         drive formatting
         drive partitions
     optical drives
     power supply
         choosing
         connecting
     preparation
     removable drives
     required components
     required tools
     software resources
     sound cards
     speakers
     troubleshooting
     video adapters 2nd
     white box components
assigning drive letters,
Asus Computer,
asymmetric DSL (ADSL),
asymmetrical networks,
asynchronous cache design,
asynchronous modems [See dial-up modems.]
asynchronous serial interface [See USB (universal serial bus),, ports, Super I/O chips.]
AT (Advanced Technology) computers,
AT Attachment [See ATA (AT Attachment),.]
AT commands,
AT desktop systems,
AT motherboards
     Baby-AT
     full-size AT
     power supply connectors
AT power supply connectors,
AT tower systems,
AT-bus [See ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) buses,.]
AT-class (advanced technology) systems
     bus designs
     compared to 8-bit systems
     expansion slots
AT/Desktop power supply,
AT/Tower power supply,
ATA (AT Attachment),
     advantages of
     ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface)
     backward compatibility
     BIOS ATA Configuration menu
     BIOS IDE Drive Configuration menu
     BIOS limitations
     bus master ATA
     buses
     cables
     CAM ATA (Common Access Method ATA)
     CD/DVD drive interfaces
     CHS (cylinder head sector) addressing
         137GB barrier
         2.1GB barrier
         4.2GB barrier
         528MB barrier
         8.4GB barrier
         ATA CHS parameter limits
         BIOS CHS parameter limits
         BIOS commands
         CHS bit-shift translation
         combined parameter limits
         compared to LBA (logical block address)
         converting to LBA (logical block address)
         LBA-assist translation
         Standard CHS
     commands
         Identify Drive
         Read Multiple
         vendor-specific commands 2nd
         WD1003 commands
         Write Multiple
     connectors
         40-pin
         50-pin
         keying
         master position
     controllers
     costs
     DMA (direct memory access)
     drive capacity limitations
     dual-drive configurations
         CS (cable select)
         daisy chains
         jumper settings
         master drives
         slave drives
     endecs
     hard disk capacity limitations
     hardcards
     history of
     HPAs (host protected areas)
     interposer cards
     low-level drive formatting
     operating system limitations
     Parallel ATA (PATA)
     performance issues
     PIO (Programmed I/O) modes
     precursors to
     prefixes for decimal/binary multiples
     RAID (redundant array of independent disks)
     reliability
     SATA (Serial ATA)
         8B/10B encoding
         AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface)
         backward compatibility
         BIOS setup
         data connector pinouts
         differential NRZ (nonreturn to zero)
         HighPoint RocketHead 100 converter
         power connector pinouts
         Serial ATA International Organization
         Serial ATA Workgroup
         Serial ATA Working Group
         standards
         transfer modes
     Security Mode
     signals
     standards
         ATA-1 standard
         ATA-2 standard
         ATA-3 standard
         ATA-8 standard 2nd
         ATA/ATAPI-4 standard
         ATA/ATAPI-5 standard
         ATA/ATAPI-6 standard
         ATA/ATAPI-7 standard
         table of
         tailgate device
         Technical Committee T13
         Ultra-ATA
ATA Configuration menu (BIOS Setup),
ATA RAID Controller setting (BIOS Setup),
Atanasoff, John V., 2nd
Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC),
ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface),
     ATA-8 standard 2nd
     ATA/ATAPI-4 standard
     ATA/ATAPI-5 standard
     ATA/ATAPI-6 standard
     ATA/ATAPI-7 standard
     CD/DVD drive interfaces
     line-in motherboard connectors
ATF (Auto Tracking Following),
Athlon 64 processors,
     Athlon 64 FX
     Athlon 64 X2
     chipsets 2nd
         AMD 8000 (8151)
         K8T800/K8T800 Pro/K8M800
         K8T890/K8M890
         nForce 410 series
         nForce 430 series
         nForce Professional series
         nForce3 150/nForce3 Pro 150
         nForce3 250 family
         nForce4 series
         RD482
         RD580
         RS480
         SiS755/755FX
         SiS756
         SiS760/760GX
         SiS761GL/761GX
         ULi M1687 2nd
         ULi M1695 2nd
Athlon MP processors,
Athlon processors, [See also Athlon 64 processors,; Athlon MP processors,; Athlon XP processors.]
     chipsets 2nd
         AMD-750
         AMD-760
         AMD-760MP
         AMD-760MPX
         Apollo KT133
         Apollo KT133A
         Apollo KT266
         Apollo KT266A
         Apollo KT333
         Apollo KT400/KM400
         Apollo KT400A
         Apollo KT600
         Apollo KT880
         Apollo KX133
         MuTIOL architecture
         nForce family
         nForce2 family
         ProSavage KM133
         ProSavage KM266
         Radeon
         SiS chipset reference table
         SiS730S
         SiS733
         SiS735
         SiS740
         SiS741/741GX
         SiS745
         SiS746
         SiS746FX
         SiS748
         ULiMagik1
     maximum installable memory
     PGA processor information
     Slot-A cartridge processor information
Athlon XP processors 2nd
ATI Technologies, Inc.
     chipsets
         A-Link architecture
         multiple-head video chipsets
         Radeon
         RD482
         RD580
         reference table
         RS480
     contact information
     CrossFire
attaching components [See installation.]
ATX motherboards,
     ATX/ATX12V 1.x power supply connectors
         20-pin main power connectors
         4-pin +12V power connectors
         6-pin auxiliary power connectors
         backward/forward compatibility
         Dell proprietary ATX design
         main power connectors
         maximum power-handling capabilities
         Molex Mini-Fit Jr. power connectors
         multiple motherboard power connectors
     ATX12V 2.x 24-pin power supply connectors
     color coding
     compared to Baby-AT and LPX
     compared to MicroATX motherboards
     connector panel
     connectors
     cooling features
     extended-ATX
     FlexATX
     identifying
     manufacturing costs
     memory location
     MicroATX
     MiniATX
     ports
     power supply
     power supply connectors
     processor location
     riser cards
ATX12V power supply,
audible continuity tests,
Audigy 2 ZS,
Audigy 2,
Audigy, 2nd
Audio Modem Riser (AMR),
Audio setting (BIOS Peripheral Configuration menu),
audio,
     3D audio
         DirectX support
         positional audio
         processing
     amplitude
     front panel audio connector connector pinout
     integrated audio chipsets
         AC'97 integrated audio
         AOpen TubeSound
     Intel High Definition Audio
     microphones
     MIDI
     music CDs, creating
         copy protection
         DAE (digital audio extraction)
         "For Music Use Only" discs
     pitch
     POST audio error codes
         AMI BIOS
         Award BIOS/Phoenix FirstBIOS
         IBM BIOS
         Phoenix BIOS
     sampling
     sound cards
         3D audio
         AdLib
         Aureal
         AV-710
         buying tips
         CA0102 (Audigy 2)
         CA0102-ICT (Audigy 2 ZS)
         CA0186
         CAO185
         comparison of features
         connectors
         data compression
         defined
         DirectX
         discontinued sound cards
         drivers
         DSPs (digital signal processors)
         DVD support
         EMU-8000
         EMU10K1
         EMU10K2 (Audigy)
         Ensoniq ES137x series
         frequency response
         game playing
         history of
         installing
         integrated audio chipsets
         manufacturers
         MIDI support
         monophonic/stereophonic
         Philips
         resource conflicts 2nd
         sampling
         SNR (signal-to-noise ratio)
         Sound Blaster
         Sound Blaster Audigy
         Sound Blaster Pro
         sound production features
         sound properties
         speaker connections
         stereo system connections
         total harmonic distortion
         troubleshooting
         USB-based audio processors
         Vibra-16
         voice control
         volume control
         X-Fi (Extreme Fidelity)
         Yamaha
     sound file resolutions
     speakers
         AC adapters
         amplification
         buying tips 2nd
         DBB (dynamic bass boost)
         frequency response
         headphones
         interference
         magnetic shielding
         sleep feature
         surround sound
         total harmonic distortion
         troubleshooting
         typical speaker setup
         volume control
         watts
     voice recognition 2nd
Aureal sound cards,
Auto Tracking Following (ATF),
AUTOEXEC.BAT file
     DOS boot process
     mouse drivers
automatic disk installation programs,
automatic display hold,
automatic drive detection,
automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry,
automatic head parking,
automatic power on/off,
autoranging,
autosynchronous monitors,
autoterminating controllers,
autotracking monitors,
aux in connectors,
auxiliary power connectors (ATX),
AV-710 sound cards,
Award BIOS, 2nd
AX4B-533 Tube, 2nd
AX4GE Tube,
AX4PE Tube,