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The Internet's #1 guide to state-of-the-art PC hardware and more - now in print!
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Table of Contents
Part I - Overview
- Chapter 1 - The Guide Guide
- 1.1 - What Is Tom's Hardware
- 1.2 - Tom's Hardware Guide to High Performance PCs
- 1.3 - Exploring Each Chapter
- Chapter
2 - Hardware Primer
- 2.1 - Taking the Tour
- 2.2 - Mobile Computing
- Chapter
3 - Operating Systems
- 3.1 - Understanding Operating Systems
- 3.2 - Current State of the Market
- 3.3 - Evaluating OSs
- 3.4 - Tom's Pick
Part II - On Board
- Chapter 4 - CPU Guide
- 4.1 - Understanding CPUs
- 4.2 - State of the CPU Market
- 4.3 - Buying Considerations
- 4.4 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
5 - Chipset Guide
- 5.1 - Chipset Mission and Workings
- 5.2 - Performance Impact Report
- 5.3 - Available Chipsets
- 5.4 - Evaluating Chipsets
- 5.5 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
6 - BIOS Guide
- 6.1 - Understanding the BIOS
- 6.2 - Basic Optimization Tricks
- 6.3 - The Grand Tour
- 6.4 - Updating Your BIOS
- Chapter
7 - Motherboards
- 7.1 - Components of the Motherboard
- 7.2 - Performance Impact Report
- 7.3 - Currently Available Motherboards
- 7.4 - Evaluating Motherboards
- 7.5 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
8 - RAM Guide
- 8.1 - How RAM Works Inside the System
- 8.2 - Performance Impact Report
- 8.3 - RAM Choices
- 8.4 - Evaluating RAM
- 8.5 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
9 - Overclocking Guide
- 9.1 - Overclocking Explained
- 9.2 - Overclocking Your PC
- 9.3 - Expert Overclocking
- 9.4 - Tom's Pick
Part III - Storage Devices
- Chapter 10 - Disk Controllers
- 10.1 - Examining IDE
- 10.2 - Examining SCSI
- 10.3 - Adding a Controller
- 10.4 - Performance Tips and Tweaks
- 10.5 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
11 - Hard Disk Guide
- 11.1 - How Magnetic Hard Disks Work
- 11.2 - Performance Impact Report
- 11.3 - Currently Available Hard Disks
- 11.4 - Evaluating Hard Disks
- 11.5 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
12 - Tape Backup Guide
- 12.1 - Understanding Tape Backup
- 12.2 - Currently Available Tape Backup
- 12.3 - Evaluating Tape Backup
- 12.4 - Understanding Backup Routines
- 12.5 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
13 - Near-Disk Storage Guide
- 13.1 - Understanding Near-Line Storage
- 13.2 - Currently Available Near-Line Storage
- 13.3 - Evaluating Near-Line Storage
- 13.4 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
14 - Optical Storage Guide
- 14.1 - Understanding CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and Writable Drives
- 14.2 - Currently Available Optical Storage
- 14.3 - Evaluating Optical Storage
- 14.4 - Tom's Pick
Part IV - Graphic & Audio Systems
- Chapter 15 - Graphics Board Guide
- 15.1 - Understanding Graphics Boards
- 15.2 - Currently Available Boards
- 15.3 - Evaluating Graphics Boards
- 15.4 - 3D Graphics in Depth
- 15.5 - Graphics Tips
- 15.6 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
16 - Display Guide
- 16.1 - How CRTs Work
- 16.2 - Performance Impact Report
- 16.3 - Currently Available Monitors
- 16.4 - Evaluating Monitors
- 16.5 - Monitor Optimization Tips
- 16.6 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
17 - Sound Card Guide
- 17.1 - Inside Digital Audio
- 17.2 - The New Audio Market
- 17.3 - Performance Impact Report
- 17.4 - Currently Available Soundcards
- 17.5 - Evaluating Soundcards
- 17.6 - Speakers
- 17.7 - Audio Tips
- 17.8 - Tom's Pick
Part V - Getting Connected
- Chapter 18 - Modem Guide
- 18.1 - Understanding Modems and Adapters
- 18.2 - Currently Available Modems
- 18.3 - Evaluating Communications
- 18.4 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter
19 - Network Hardware Guide
- 19.1 - Understanding Network Hardware
- 19.2 - Currently Available Network Hardware
- 19.3 - Evaluating Network Cards
- 19.4 - Tom's Pick
Part VI - Completing Your System
- Chapter 20 - Input Devices
- 20.1 - Understanding Keyboards
- 20.2 - Understanding Mice and Trackballs
- 20.3 - Gaming Devices
- 20.4 - Tom's Pick
- Chapter 21 - Cases and Power Supplies
- 21.1 - Power Supplies
- 21.2 - Surge Protectors
- 21.3 - Uninterruptible Power Supply
- 21.4 - System Cases
- 21.5 - Tom's Pick
Part VII - - Tom's Dream Machine
- Chapter 22 - Tom's Dream Machine
- 22.1 - The Grand Tour
- 22.2 - Wrapping Up
Part VIII - - Appendices
- Appendix A - Benchmarking
- A.1 - Types of Benchmarks
- A.2 - Benchmarking Lessons
- Appendix B - Future Casing
- B.1 - Mainboard Components
- B.2 - Peripherals
- B.3 - Tom's Vision
