Free information about Memory Processor Motherboards and buses http://e-articles.info/e/s/s/Memory-Processor-Motherboards-and-buses/ en-us E-articles.info 2006 - 2009 Fundamentally, a computer bus consists of a set of parallel “wires” attached to several connectors into which peripheral boards may be plugged. Typically the processor is connected at one end of these wires. Memory may also be attached via the bus... by Loran Wilkinson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-a-Computer-Bus/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-a-Computer-Bus/ Sun, 18 May 2008 00:33:17 GMT For purposes of definition, the PCI signals can be classified in several functional groups. System CLK Provides timing for all PCI transactions and is an input to every PCI device. All other PCI signals except RST# and INTA# through INTD# are sampled on the rising edge of CLK... by Loran Wilkinson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/PCI-Signal-Groups/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/PCI-Signal-Groups/ Sun, 18 May 2008 01:41:22 GMT When someone uses the term "memory," they are typically referring to the data storage provided by dedicated chips located on the motherboard. The storage these chips provide is often referred to as Random Access Memory (RAM), main memory, and primary storage. Back in the iron age, when mainframes walked the earth, it was called the core... by Vuk Mitrovich http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Memory-Hierarchy/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Memory-Hierarchy/ Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:49:27 GMT Each byte in DRAM is assigned a unique numeric identifier called an address, just like houses on a street. An address is an integer value. The first byte in memory is assigned an address of zero... by Vuk Mitrovich http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Address-Lines-and-Buses/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Address-Lines-and-Buses/ Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:57:32 GMT Increases the processing speed to 4.7 GHz A revolutionary device in the form of tiny chip has been designed by IBM which has put the world in wonders. Power6 is really a mind-blowing processor which not only reduces the power consumption to half but increases its speed to 4... by Sam Mike http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Power6-Processor:-Worlds-Fastest-Processor/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Power6-Processor:-Worlds-Fastest-Processor/ Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:23:37 GMT Installing a motherboard for the first time intimidates most people, but it's really pretty easy if you do it by the numbers. Before you get started, prepare a well-lighted working area, ideally one with all-around access. The kitchen table (appropriately protected) or a similar surface usually works well... by Ing. Demir Cutts http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-a-motherboard/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-a-motherboard/ Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:31:42 GMT You can sometimes upgrade a system cost effectively without replacing the motherboard. The more recent the system, the more likely this is to be true. The easiest upgrade is always replacing a processor with a faster version of the same processor... by Marian Dumitrescu http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Tips-you-should-know-before-choosing-a-motherboard/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Tips-you-should-know-before-choosing-a-motherboard/ Wed, 06 Dec 2006 06:39:47 GMT The original IBM PC used an 8088 processor, which supported up to 1 MB of physical memory, addressed as sixteen 64 KB segments. Memory locations are enumerated in hexadecimal, so the first segment includes the addresses 00000h through 0FFFFh (0 through 65,535 decimal) and the 16th includes the addresses F0000h through FFFFFh (983,040 through 1,048,575 decimal). T he first 10 of those segments—00000h through 9FFFFh—comprise the base 640 KB of memory addresses that are accessible by the operating system and programs... by Tom Dickens http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Memory-Ranges/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Memory-Ranges/ Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:47:52 GMT The processor you choose determines how fast the system runs, and how long it will provide subjectively adequate performance before you need to replace the processor or the system itself. Buying a processor just fast enough to meet current needs means that you'll have to upgrade in a few months. But processor pricing has a built-in law of diminishing returns... by Ing. Demir Cutts http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Tips-on-how-to-choose-a-processor/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Tips-on-how-to-choose-a-processor/ Fri, 01 Dec 2006 08:55:57 GMT Once installed and configured, memory seldom causes problems. When problems do occur, they may be as obvious as a failed RAM check at boot or as subtle as a few corrupted bits in a datafile. The usual symptom of memory problems is a kernel panic under Linux or a blue-screen crash under Windows... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Troubleshooting-Memory-Installation-and-Operation/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Troubleshooting-Memory-Installation-and-Operation/ Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:23:15 GMT Socket 5 and Socket 7 motherboards must be configured properly to support the particular processor you are installing. 1. Use the processor and motherboard documentation to verify that the processor and motherboard are compatible, and to determine the proper settings for bus speed, CPU multiplier, core voltage, and I/O voltage... by Ing. Demir Cutts http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-Socket-5-and-Socket-7-processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-Socket-5-and-Socket-7-processors/ Sat, 25 Nov 2006 10:31:20 GMT ISA and PCI handle interrupts very differently. ISA expansion cards are configured manually for IRQ, usually by setting a jumper, but sometimes by running a setup program. All ISA slots have all IRQ lines present, so it doesn't matter which card is placed in which slot... by Tom Dickens http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/IRQs-~-ISA-interrupts-versus-PCI-interrupts/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/IRQs-~-ISA-interrupts-versus-PCI-interrupts/ Wed, 22 Nov 2006 11:39:25 GMT Installing a SIMM or DIMM module is straightforward. Most recent motherboards automatically detect installed memory modules regardless of the slot they occupy, but it is good practice to fill banks from the lowest numbered to the highest. For example, if the motherboard has three banks, fill Bank 1 only after Bank 0 is filled, and fill Bank 2 only after Banks 0 and 1 are filled... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-on-installing-SIMM-and-DIMM-memory-into-a-computer/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-on-installing-SIMM-and-DIMM-memory-into-a-computer/ Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:47:30 GMT PC memory may use the following access methods: Asynchronous Asynchronous DRAM , which was used in all PCs until the late 1990s, uses a window of fixed minimum duration to determine when operations may occur. If the CPU has transferred data while a window is open, and if a subsequent clock cycle occurs while that window remains open, the CPU cannot transfer additional data until the next window opens, thereby wasting that clock cycle. Asynchronous operation forces the CPU to conform to a fixed schedule for transferring data, rather than doing so whenever it wishes... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Memory-Access-Methods/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Memory-Access-Methods/ Wed, 08 Nov 2006 13:55:35 GMT PCI Bus IRQ Steering is a function built into Windows 95 OSR2 or higher and Windows 98 (but not NT4 or Windows 2000/XP). IRQ Steering allows Windows itself to assign IRQs to PCI devices. With earlier versions of Windows 95, the BIOS assigns IRQs to PCI devices, and Windows must accept the decisions made by the BIOS IRQ Steering... by Tom Dickens http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-PCI-Bus-IRQ-Steering-and-how-does-it-work/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-PCI-Bus-IRQ-Steering-and-how-does-it-work/ Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:23:40 GMT Installing recent socketed processors—the Intel Pentium III/4/Celeron or the AMD Athlon/Duron—requires essentially the same steps described in another article i wrote, except that recent processors do not require the motherboard be configured manually. Most Socket 370, Socket 423, Socket 478, and Socket A motherboards are self-configuring. They detect the type and speed of processor installed and properly configure FSB speed, CPU multiplier, voltage, and other settings automatically... by Ing. Demir Cutts http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-modern-socketed-processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-modern-socketed-processors/ Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:31:45 GMT Although mainstream slotted processors are now obsolescent, they remain in limited distribution. A faster slotted processor may be a worthwhile upgrade for an older system. Installing a faster slotted processor can greatly improve system performance and extend the useful life of an otherwise obsolescent system... by Ing. Demir Cutts http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-a-Slotted-Processor/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-a-Slotted-Processor/ Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:39:50 GMT Direct Memory Access (DMA) is a means by which devices can exchange data with memory or with each other without requiring intervention by the processor. Standard DMA allows a device to exchange data with memory, but not with another device. Bus Mastering DMA allows two devices to communicate directly with each other... by Tom Dickens http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Direct-Memory-Access-and-ISA-DMA-channel-assignments/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Direct-Memory-Access-and-ISA-DMA-channel-assignments/ Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:47:55 GMT Memory is available in various physical packaging. Roughly in order of their appearance, the major types of DRAM packaging include: DIP (Dual Inline Pin Package) This package comprises a rectangular chip with a row of pins down each long side, making it resemble an insect. DIP was the most common DRAM package used in PCs through early 386 models... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-is-DRAM-memory-packed/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-is-DRAM-memory-packed/ Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:55:15 GMT How much memory you actually need depends on the operating system and applications you use, how many windows you keep open, which background services and processes you run, and so on. Memory is more important than processor speed when it comes to system performance. Windows XP runs faster on a slow Celeron with 256 MB than on a fast Pentium 4 with 64 MB... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-much-memory-is-enough/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-much-memory-is-enough/ Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:23:20 GMT SDRAM is short for synchronous DRAM, a type of DRAM that runs in synchronization with the memory bus. SDRAM delivers information in very high-speed bursts using a high-speed, clocked interface. SDRAM removes most of the latency involved in asynchronous DRAM because the signals are already in synchronization with the motherboard clock... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/SDRAM/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/SDRAM/ Wed, 06 Sep 2006 20:31:25 GMT Processors are normally very reliable. Most PC problems are with other devices, but if you suspect the processor, there are some steps you can take to troubleshoot it. The easiest thing to do is to replace the microprocessor with a known-good spare... by Hugo Gyopa http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Processor-Troubleshooting-Techniques/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Processor-Troubleshooting-Techniques/ Tue, 05 Sep 2006 21:39:30 GMT CAS latency is the delay, in clock cycles, between the time the processor requests data from memory and the time the memory makes the first piece of data available to be read. SDR-SDRAM modules may have a CAS latency of 1, 2, or 3. DDR-SDRAM modules have a CAS latency of 2 or 2... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-CAS-latency/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-CAS-latency/ Sat, 02 Sep 2006 22:47:35 GMT After the fourth-generation chips such as the 486, Intel and other chip manufacturers went back to the drawing board to come up with new architectures and features that they would later incorporate into what they called fifth-generation chips. This section defines the fifth-generation processors from Intel, AMD, and others. Pentium Processors On October 19, 1992, Intel announced that the fifth generation of its compatible microprocessor line (codenamed P5) would be named the Pentium processor rather than the 586, as everybody had assumed... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P5-(586)-Fifth-Generation-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P5-(586)-Fifth-Generation-Processors/ Wed, 30 Aug 2006 23:55:40 GMT The brain or engine of the PC is the processor (sometimes called microprocessor), or central processing unit (CPU). The CPU performs the system's calculating and processing. The processor is often the most expensive single component in the system (although graphics card pricing now surpasses it in some cases); in higher-end systems it can cost up to four or more times more than the motherboard it plugs into... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Pre-PC-Microprocessor-History/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Pre-PC-Microprocessor-History/ Mon, 28 Aug 2006 01:23:45 GMT First used in the P6 or sixth-generation processors, dynamic execution enables the processor to execute more instructions on parallel, so tasks are completed more quickly. This technology innovation is comprised of three main elements: Multiple branch prediction. Predicts the flow of the program through several branches Dataflow analysis... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-should-you-know-about-Processor-Dynamic-Execution/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-should-you-know-about-Processor-Dynamic-Execution/ Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:31:50 GMT Intel's successor to the Pentium is called the Pentium Pro. The Pentium Pro was the first chip in the P6 or sixth-generation processor family. It was introduced in November 1995 and became widely available in 1996... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Short-description-and-features-of-Pentium-Pro-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Short-description-and-features-of-Pentium-Pro-Processors/ Fri, 25 Aug 2006 03:39:55 GMT Microsoft, Intel, AST Corp., and Lotus Development developed the extended memory specification (XMS) in 1987 to specify how programs would use extended memory. The XMS specification functions on systems based on the 286 or higher and enables real-mode programs (those designed to run in DOS) to use extended memory and another block of memory usually out of the reach of DOS... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/XMS-Memory/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/XMS-Memory/ Thu, 24 Aug 2006 04:47:15 GMT C000 and D000 are reserved for use by adapter-board ROM and RAM. If two adapters have overlapping ROM or RAM addresses, usually neither board operates properly. Each board functions if you remove or disable the other one, but they do not work together... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-Prevent-ROM-BIOS-Memory-Conflicts-and-Overlap/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-Prevent-ROM-BIOS-Memory-Conflicts-and-Overlap/ Wed, 23 Aug 2006 05:55:20 GMT Besides Intel, many other manufacturers have produced P6-type processors, but often with a difference. Most of them were designed to interface with P5 class motherboards for the lower-end markets. AMD later offered up the Athlon and Duron processors, which were true sixth-generation designs using their own proprietary connections to the system... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Sixth-Generation-Processors-other-than-Intel/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Sixth-Generation-Processors-other-than-Intel/ Wed, 23 Aug 2006 06:23:25 GMT The first generation of processors represents the series of chips from Intel that were found in the first PCs. IBM, as the architect of the PC at the time, chose Intel processors and support chips to build the PC motherboard, setting a standard that would hold for many subsequent processor generations to come. 8088 and 8086 Processors Intel introduced the 8086 back in June 1978... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P1-(086)-First-Generation-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P1-(086)-First-Generation-Processors/ Mon, 21 Aug 2006 07:31:30 GMT The processor bus (also called the front-side bus or FSB) is the communication pathway between the CPU and motherboard chipset, more specifically the North Bridge or Memory Controller Hub. This bus runs at the full motherboard speedtypically between 66MHz and 800MHz in modern systems, depending on the particular board and chipset design. This same bus also transfers data between the CPU and an external (L2) memory cache on Socket-7 (Pentium class) systems... by Brian Rosenback http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Processor-Bus-(Front-Side-Bus)/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Processor-Bus-(Front-Side-Bus)/ Mon, 21 Aug 2006 08:39:35 GMT Most people don't realize that not all the RAM you purchase and install in a system is available. Because of some quirks in system design, the system usually has to "throw away" up to 384KB of RAM to make way for the Upper Memory Area. For example, most systems with 16MB of RAM (which is 16,384KB) installed show a total of only 16,000KB installed during the POST or when running Setup... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Total-Installed-Memory-VS-Total-Usable-Memory/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Total-Installed-Memory-VS-Total-Usable-Memory/ Sat, 19 Aug 2006 09:47:40 GMT Adapter boards use upper memory for their BIOS and as working RAM. If two boards attempt to use the same BIOS area or RAM area of upper memory, a conflict occurs that can keep your system from booting. In most cases, the plug-and-play software in the operating system ensures that such cards are automatically reconfigured so that they are not in conflict; however, sometimes problems can occur and you must step in and manually resolve a conflict... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Adapter-Memory-Configuration-and-Optimization/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Adapter-Memory-Configuration-and-Optimization/ Sat, 19 Aug 2006 10:55:45 GMT Processor manufacturers use specialized equipment to test their own processors, but you have to settle for a little less. The best processor-testing device to which you have access is a system that you know is functional; you then can use the diagnostics available from various utility software companies or your system manufacturer to test the motherboard and processor functions. Perhaps the most infamous of these bugs is the floating-point division math bug in the early Pentium processors... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/General-Processor-Bugs/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/General-Processor-Bugs/ Fri, 18 Aug 2006 11:23:50 GMT The third generation had been a large change from the previous generations of processors. With the fourth generation, more refinement than complete redesign was accomplished. Even so, Intel, AMD, and others managed to literally double processor performance with their fourth-generation processors... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P4-(486)-Fourth-Generation-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P4-(486)-Fourth-Generation-Processors/ Fri, 18 Aug 2006 12:31:55 GMT The Pentium III processor was first released in February 1999 and introduced several new features to the P6 family. It is essentially the same core as a Pentium II with the addition of SSE instructions and integrated on-die L2 cache in the later versions. SSE consists of 70 new instructions that dramatically enhance the performance and possibilities of advanced imaging, 3D, streaming audio, video, and speech-recognition applications... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Pentium-III-and-Pentium-II-AND-III-Xenon-~-Features-and-Parameters/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Pentium-III-and-Pentium-II-AND-III-Xenon-~-Features-and-Parameters/ Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:39:15 GMT The heart of any motherboard is the various buses that carry signals between the components. A bus is a common pathway across which data can travel within a computer. This pathway is used for communication and can be established between two or more computer elements... by Brian Rosenback http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/System-Bus-Types-Functions-and-Features/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/System-Bus-Types-Functions-and-Features/ Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:47:20 GMT In February 1999, Intel introduced the Pentium III processor and included in that processor an update to MMX called Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE). These were also called Katmai New Instructions (KNI) up until their debut because they were originally included on the Katmai processor, which was the codename for the Pentium III. The Celeron 533A and faster Celeron processors based on the Pentium III core also support SSE instructions... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/SSE-SSE2-and-SSE3/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/SSE-SSE2-and-SSE3/ Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:55:25 GMT The third generation represents perhaps the most significant change in processors since the first PC. The big deal was the migration from processors that handled 16-bit operations to true 32-bit chips. The third-generation processors were so far ahead of their time, it took fully 10 years before 32-bit operating systems and software became mainstream, and by that time the third-generation chips had become a memory... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P3-(386)-Third-Generation-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P3-(386)-Third-Generation-Processors/ Tue, 15 Aug 2006 16:23:30 GMT As of 2001, it had been about 15 years since PCs had begun to support 32-bit processors (all processors from the 80386 up through the Intel Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon XP). However, in 2001, Intel introduced the first 64-bit processor for serversthe Itaniumfollowed in 2002 by the improved Itanium 2. In 2003, AMD introduced the first 64-bit processor for x86-compatible desktop computersthe Athlon 64followed by its first 64-bit server processor, the Opteron... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Eighth-Generation-(64-Bit-Register)-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Eighth-Generation-(64-Bit-Register)-Processors/ Mon, 14 Aug 2006 17:31:35 GMT 8086 In 1978, Intel introduced the first major processor for personal computers—the 8086—which had a 16-bit data bus, 16-bit registers, and a 20-bit address bus. A 20- bit address bus meant that the 8086 could access 1MB of RAM. The speed of the 8086 ranged from 4... by Denny Thomson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Short-Presentation-of-Early-Intel-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Short-Presentation-of-Early-Intel-Processors/ Sun, 13 Aug 2006 18:39:40 GMT The P6 (686) processors represent a new generation with features not found in the previous generation units. The P6 processor family began when the Pentium Pro was released in November 1995. Since then, Intel has released many other P6 chips, all using the same basic P6 core processor as the Pentium Pro... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Intel-P6-(686)-Sixth-Generation-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Intel-P6-(686)-Sixth-Generation-Processors/ Sat, 12 Aug 2006 19:47:45 GMT Intel revealed the Pentium II in May 1997. Prior to its official unveiling, the Pentium II processor was popularly referred to by its codename, Klamath, and was surrounded by much speculation throughout the industry. The Pentium II is essentially the same sixth-generation processor as the Pentium Pro, with MMX technology added (which included double the L1 cache and 57 new MMX instructions); however, there are a few twists to the design... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Information-about-Pentium-II-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Information-about-Pentium-II-Processors/ Sat, 12 Aug 2006 20:55:50 GMT The Celeron processor is a chameleon. It was originally a P6 with the same processor core as the Pentium II in the original two versions; later it came with the same core as the PIII; and more recently it has been based on the various the Pentium 4 cores, including Prescott. It is designed mainly for lower-cost PCs... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Pentium-6-Intel-Celeron-~-History-and-features/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Pentium-6-Intel-Celeron-~-History-and-features/ Sat, 12 Aug 2006 21:23:55 GMT The memory bus is used to transfer information between the CPU and main memorythe RAM in your system. This bus is usually connected to the motherboard chipset North Bridge or Memory Controller Hub chip. Depending on the type of memory your chipset (and therefore motherboard) is designed to handle, the North Bridge runs the memory bus at various speeds... by Brian Rosenback http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Memory-Bus/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Memory-Bus/ Sat, 12 Aug 2006 22:31:15 GMT I am often asked to make a recommendation for purchases. Without guidance, many individuals don't have any rhyme or reason to their selections and instead base their choices solely on magazine reviews or, even worse, on some personal bias. To help eliminate this haphazard selection process, I have developed a simple checklist that will help you select a system... by Brian Rosenback http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-to-Look-For-When-Buying-a-Motherboard-~-The-Selection-Criteria/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-to-Look-For-When-Buying-a-Motherboard-~-The-Selection-Criteria/ Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:39:20 GMT Without a doubt, the most important component in a PC system is the main board or motherboard. Virtually every internal component in a PC connects to the motherboard, and its features largely determine what your computer is capable of, not to mention its overall performance. Although I prefer the term motherboard, other terms such as main board, system board, and planar are interchangeable... by Brian Rosenback http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Motherboard-Form-Factors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Motherboard-Form-Factors/ Fri, 11 Aug 2006 01:47:25 GMT Newer systems use DIMM or RIMM modules exclusively. DIMM and RIMM memory are available in many more variants than SIMM memory, so be careful to buy DIMMs or RIMMs that match your requirements. Use these guidelines when choosing DIMM or RIMM memory modules: For SDRAM DIMMs, get the proper voltage... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-upgrading-memory-on-older-systems/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-upgrading-memory-on-older-systems/ Fri, 11 Aug 2006 02:55:30 GMT Use the following guidelines when choosing SIMM memory modules: Unless you are upgrading an older Socket 7 system that accepts only 72-pin SIMMs, buy only 168-pin DIMM memory. Many Socket 7 motherboards have both SIMM and DIMM sockets. Buying DIMMs for such a board makes more sense than buying obsolete SIMMs... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-upgrading-memory-in-Pentium-Pro-and-Pentium-Class-systems/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-upgrading-memory-in-Pentium-Pro-and-Pentium-Class-systems/ Fri, 11 Aug 2006 03:23:35 GMT Standard DRAM is accessed through a technique called paging. Normal memory access requires that a row and column address be selected, which takes time. Paging enables faster access to all the data within a given row of memory by keeping the row address the same and changing only the column... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Fast-Page-Mode-DRAM/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Fast-Page-Mode-DRAM/ Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:31:40 GMT Computers with two or more physical processors have long had a performance advantage over single-processor computers when the operating system supported multiple processors, as is the case with Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP Professional, and Linux. However, dual-processor motherboards and systems have always been more expensive than otherwise-comparable single processor systems, and upgrading a dual-processor-capable system to dual-processor status can be difficult with only one processor because of the need to match processor speeds and specifications... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Some-words-about-Hyper-Threading-Technology/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Some-words-about-Hyper-Threading-Technology/ Thu, 10 Aug 2006 05:39:45 GMT Use the following guidelines when choosing SIMM memory modules: Unless you are upgrading an older Socket 7 system that accepts only 72-pin SIMMs, buy only 168-pin DIMM memory. Many Socket 7 motherboards have both SIMM and DIMM sockets. Buying DIMMs for such a board makes more sense than buying obsolete SIMMs... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-choosing-SIMM-memory-modules/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-choosing-SIMM-memory-modules/ Wed, 09 Aug 2006 06:47:50 GMT Since the 486, processor upgrades have been relatively easy for most systems. With the 486 and later processors, Intel designed in the capability to upgrade by designing standard sockets that would take a variety of processors. Thus, if you have a motherboard with Socket 3, you can put virtually any 486 processor in it; if you have a Socket 7 motherboard, it should be capable of accepting virtually any Pentium processor (or Socket 7based third-party processor)... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-Upgrade-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-Upgrade-Processors/ Tue, 08 Aug 2006 07:55:55 GMT MMX technology was originally named for multimedia extensions, or matrix math extensions, depending on whom you ask. Intel officially states that it is actually not an abbreviation and stands for nothing other than the letters MMX (not being an abbreviation was apparently required so that the letters could be trademarked); however, the internal origins are probably one of the preceding. MMX technology was introduced in the later fifth-generation Pentium processors as a kind of add-on that improves video compression/decompression, image manipulation, encryption, and I/O processingall of which are used in a variety of today's software... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/MMX-Technology/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/MMX-Technology/ Sun, 06 Aug 2006 08:23:15 GMT The memory map on a system based on the 286 or higher processor can extend beyond the 1MB boundary that exists when the processor is in real mode. On a 286 or 386SX system, the extended memory limit is 16MB (24-bit addressing); on a 386DX, 486, Pentium, or Pentium MMX system, the extended memory limit is 4GB (4,096MB using 32-bit addressing). Systems based on the Pentium Pro, Pentium II, and newer processors have a limit of 64GB (65,536MB using 36-bit addressing)... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-the-Extended-Memory/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-the-Extended-Memory/ Sat, 05 Aug 2006 09:31:20 GMT The second generation of PC processors allowed for a great leap in system speed and processing efficiency. With these chips we went from moving 8 bits of data around to moving 16 bits at a time. The following section details the second-generation PC processor, the 286... by Hanna Quassar http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P2-(286)-Second-Generation-Processors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/P2-(286)-Second-Generation-Processors/ Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:39:25 GMT This article covers the floating-point unit (FPU) contained in the processor, which was formerly a separate external math coprocessor in the 386 and older chips. Older central processing units designed by Intel (and cloned by other companies) used an external math coprocessor chip. However, when Intel introduced the 486DX, it included a built-in math coprocessor, and every processor built by Intel (and AMD and Cyrix, for that matter) since then includes a math coprocessor... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-Math-Coprocessors-work-(Floating-Point-Units)/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-Math-Coprocessors-work-(Floating-Point-Units)/ Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:47:30 GMT Adding memory to a system is one of the most useful upgrades you can perform and also one of the least expensiveespecially when you consider the increased capabilities of Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT/2000/XP, and Linux when you give them access to more memory. In some cases, doubling the memory can practically double the speed of a computer. The following sections discuss adding memory, including selecting memory chips, installing memory chips, and testing the installation... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-RAM-Upgrades/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-install-RAM-Upgrades/ Sun, 30 Jul 2006 12:55:35 GMT A video adapter installed in your system uses a portion of your system's first megabyte of memory to hold graphics or character information for display, but this typically is used or active only when in basic VGA mode. Note that even though a modern video card can have 256MB or more of onboard memory, only 128KB of this memory appears available to the system in the video RAM area. The rest of the memory is accessible only by the video processor (on the video card) directly, or by your system processor via a memory aperture positioned near the 4GB top of the system address space... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Video-RAM-Memory/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Video-RAM-Memory/ Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:23:40 GMT Memory is the workspace for the computer's processor. It is a temporary storage area where the programs and data being operated on by the processor must reside. Memory storage is considered temporary because the data and programs remain there only as long as the computer has electrical power or is not reset... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Memory-Basics-~-ROM-DRAM-SRAM-Cache-Memory/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Memory-Basics-~-ROM-DRAM-SRAM-Cache-Memory/ Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:31:45 GMT No matter how fast a conventional single-core processor operates or how much RAM is installed in a system, it must ensure that each program and process that is running is properly serviced. As more and more programs are opened, the amount of time the processor can devote to each program is reduced. The result is that system performance declines... by Craig Hungaro http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-are-Dual-Core-Processors.-Advantages-of-Dual-Core-Processor/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-are-Dual-Core-Processors.-Advantages-of-Dual-Core-Processor/ Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:39:50 GMT Intel, AMD, and Cyrix have always used codenames when talking about future processors. The codenames usually are not supposed to become public, but they typically do. They can often be found in online and print news and magazine articles talking about future-generation processors... by Hugo Gyopa http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Processor-Codenames/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Processor-Codenames/ Thu, 27 Jul 2006 16:47:55 GMT The term Upper Memory Area (UMA) describes the reserved 384KB at the top of the first megabyte of system memory on a PC/XT and the first megabyte on an AT-type system. This memory has the addresses from A0000 through FFFFF. The way the 384KB of upper memory is used breaks down as follows: The first 128KB after conventional memory is called video RAM... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-UMA-~-Upper-Memory-Area/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-is-UMA-~-Upper-Memory-Area/ Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:55:15 GMT Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) is a fairly radical memory design found in high-end PC systems from late 1999 through 2002. Intel signed a contract with Rambus in 1996 ensuring it would support RDRAM into 2001. After 2001, Intel continued to support RDRAM in existing systems, but new chipsets and motherboards primarily shifted to DDR SDRAM, and all future Intel chipsets and motherboards are being designed for either conventional DDR or the newer DDR2 standard... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/RDRAM/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/RDRAM/ Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:23:20 GMT It is interesting to note that the microprocessor had existed for only 10 years prior to the creation of the PC! Intel invented the microprocessor in 1971; the PC was created by IBM in 1981. Now more than 20 years later, we are still using systems based more or less on the design of that first PC. The processors powering our PCs today are still backward compatible in many ways with the 8088 that IBM selected for the first PC in 1981... by Uma Kalipa http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-evolution-of-Microprocessors-from-1971-to-the-Present/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-evolution-of-Microprocessors-from-1971-to-the-Present/ Sat, 22 Jul 2006 19:31:25 GMT Originally, systems had memory installed via individual chips. They are often referred to as dual inline package (DIP) chips because of their designs. The original IBM XT and AT had 36 sockets on the motherboard for these individual chips; then more of them were installed on the memory cards plugged into the bus slots... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-SIMM-DIMM-and-RIMM-memory-work/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-SIMM-DIMM-and-RIMM-memory-work/ Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:39:30 GMT In 1995, a newer type of memory called extended data out (EDO) RAM became available for Pentium systems. EDO, a modified form of FPM memory, is sometimes referred to as Hyper Page mode. EDO was invented and patented by Micron Technology, although Micron licensed production to many other memory manufacturers... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/EDORAM-~-Extended-Data-Out-RAM/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/EDORAM-~-Extended-Data-Out-RAM/ Tue, 18 Jul 2006 21:47:35 GMT Memory problems can be difficult to troubleshoot. For one thing, computer memory is still mysterious to people because it is a kind of "virtual" thing that can be hard to grasp. The other difficulty is that memory problems can be intermittent and often look like problems with other areas of the system, even software... by Kyle Duke http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Troubleshooting-Memory/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Troubleshooting-Memory/ Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:55:40 GMT When upgrading an older motherboard, it is sometimes impossible to match the installed memory. Some motherboards have 30-pin and 72-pin SIMM sockets, and many have both SIMM and DIMM sockets. If the installed memory occupies all available sockets of one type, you may have to add memory of a different type... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-upgrading-memory-on-older-systems/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-upgrading-memory-on-older-systems/ Tue, 11 Jul 2006 23:23:45 GMT These systems are excellent candidates for memory upgrades. Early Pentium II systems often have only 16 MB of RAM. In the price-sensitive consumer Celeron market, many early systems shipped with only 16 MB, and some Celeron systems have been sold with only 8 MB... by Ing. Hida Hamilton http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-upgrading-memory-in-Pentium-II/III/IV-Celeron-and-Athlon-systems/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-when-upgrading-memory-in-Pentium-II/III/IV-Celeron-and-Athlon-systems/ Tue, 11 Jul 2006 01:31:50 GMT