What to look for when purchasing a laptop

Portable Computers

Weight, Screen size, color support, Batteries, PC card support and Features (color, style, moving around, price, support)

Laptop Power Management:
APM (Advance Power Management)
APCI (Advance Power Configuration Interface)
Types of Portable Computer Displays





LCD - Liquid Crystal Display uses TFT Thin Film Transistor Technology
Active Matrix is clear and you can see it in any angle vs. Passive Matrix found on older notebooks


LED – Light Emitting Diode

OLED – Organic Light Emitting Diode

Video Standards for laptops:

Resolution and Horizontal and Vertical Ratios

XGA Extended Graphics Array 800 x 600 4:3 or 1024 x 768 4:3
SXGA Super XGA 1400 x 1050 4:3
UXGA Ultra XGA 1600 x 1200 4:3
WUXGA Widescreen Ultra XGA 1920 x 1200 16:10


How to move around

Touch pad, Serial Mouse, PS/2 Mouse, Wireless\Bluetooth, Infrared Mouse, USB Mouse, Eraser/Pointer stick & Trackball
Fn Keys  and Ports – Function Keys. Audio/Video Ports, USB, Firewire, Display, Wireless, RJ45, HDMI, and VGA ports
Special Keys – Dual Displays, Wireless on/off, Volume, Brightness, Bluetooth on/off and Keyboard backlight

Batteries

Nickel Cadmium Ni-CD first battery ever used in mobile PC no smart recharging must wait before PC is drained before you can recharge (memory effect)  also battery did not last as long and when removing must clean corrosion in order for new battery to work.

Nickel Metal Hydride Ni-MH a little better than the Ni-CD but has the same problems stated above

Lithium Ion are completely immune to memory problems can recharge on the fly and lasts longer will not explode if overcharge this should be the battery you will need for your laptop

Docking Stations - A docking station lets you connect many devices to a portable at once

Port Replicator – A device to connect a laptop to replicate ports to connect peripherals

PCMCIA Cards or Card Bus of the newest cards Express Cards
(16, 32 and 64bit)

Type I                    
3.3mm                 
Flash Memory

Type II                   
5.0mm                   
NIC/Modem/USB/Firewire

Type III                   
10.5mm                 
Hard Drive

Express Card /34mm and /54mm

Laptop components

LCD screen, case, keyboard, hard drive (SATA/PATA), memory, optical drive, wireless card, mini PCIe, DC jack, battery, touchpad, speakers, motherboard and CPU

Memory components

SO DIMM     

MicroDIMM

Cooling Fans – Use to cool portable computers

Security – Physical Laptop lock, laptop cable locks, LoJack, Find my iPhone/iPAD, Insurance and Warranty

Laptop Components that you usually do not mess with include Display, CPU and Motherboard

Laptop Components use replace are batteries, AC Charger, Memory, Storage, Optical, CMOS battery, Card Bus and Networking

Troubleshooting laptops

No display
Dim display
Flickering display
Sticky keys
Battery issues
Ghost cursor
No power
Num Lock indicator lights
No wireless
No Bluetooth connectivity
Cannot display to external monitor

Tools

Document and label cable and screws
Organize parts
Manufacturer documentation
Use proper tools

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Computer Monitors tips

Types of Displays

CRT or Cathode Ray Tube Monitor
CRT stands for cathode-ray tube and is a technology has been around for a long time

LCD or Flat Panel Monitor
LCD stands for liquid crystal display and although it may seem like this is a new technology it has been used in digital watches for years. The technology works by passing an electric current through liquid crystal which is contained between two sheets of polarizing material.

There are 2 types of color LCD's, passive matrix and active matrix also known as TFT (thin film transistor). Passive matrix LCD's are the less expensive of the two types.


LED and OLED - Light Emitting Diode or Organic LED works without a backlight.

Types of OLED are PMOLED and AMOLED Passive and Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode

Plasma Display – is a type of flat panel display that utilizes small cells containing electrically charged ionized gas.




Projectors – Use for presentation the 3 types of projectors are (CRT, LCD and DLP) Digital Light Processing

Monitor Specs

Monitor supports Pixels and RGB color support
(Red, Green and Blue)


Resolution and Refresh Rates
The resolution is the number of dots displayed on the entire screen. The higher the resolution the smaller everything on the screen will be. This can be a benefit for running multiple applications at the same time but can also be a burden for someone with poor eyesight. Common resolution supports include 640 * 480, 800 * 600 and 1,024*768 and so forth.

The refresh rate of a monitor is the frequency at which the screen is redrawn. The higher the number the more often the screen is redrawn and the less flicker will occur. Common Refresh rate are 60 to 80Hertz

Refresh rates for CRT's will also vary but the minimum refresh rate should be at least 70Hz. Anything below 70Hz and people can start to notice the screen flicker as it is redrawn which can cause eye strain.

Screen Size

The screen size is measured diagonally from corner to corner

Most Monitor can display 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27 and 32 inches

Viewing Angle

LCD/LED/OLED/Plasma - The viewing angle indicates at what angle the monitor can be viewed vertically and horizontally and still be seen.

CRT - CRT monitor can be viewed at almost any angle

Contrast Ratio

The contrast ratio determines how rich colors will appear on-screen, the higher the ratio the better. Contrast ratios range from 200:1 up to 1000:1

Brightness

LCD/LED/OLED - The brightness states how bright the LCD display will be and ranges from 200 cd/ m 2 to 350 cd/m 2. For the most part, all LCD monitors exhibit sufficient brightness for any type of use.

Dot pitch

This is the space between image pixels on the screen measured in millimeters

LCD - The less space between dots the better and sharper the image will be so the lower the number stated for this spec the better. Dot pitch ranges between .28mm to .24mm in all model categories.

CRT - The less space between dots the better and sharper the image will be so the lower the number stated for this spec the better. Dot pitch ranges between .28mm to .24mm in all model categories.

Multiple Monitor or Dual View Monitor is a Windows feature that allows you to duplicate or extend the desktop across to multiple displays and monitors.

Monitor Troubleshooting
Greenish Tint (Bad Monitor or Bent Pins)
Dead Pixels
Black Border around monitors
No Displays

* Note never work on monitors very dangerous!!!!!!!

Custom PC Configurations
Audio/Video Editing Workstation (Special video card, large fast hard drives and dual monitors)

Graphics Art PCs (Photoshop)

Music Recording PCs (Logic Pro)

Video Recording PCs (Pinnacle)
CAD/CAM Workstation (Powerful CPU, High end video and maximum RAM)

Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing
Virtualization Workstation
Type 1 Native: VMware, Citrix and Hyper V

Type 2 Hosted: VMware Server and MS Virtual PC
Thin and Thick Clients (Basic and Desktop Applications)

Home Server PC (Media Streaming, File Sharing, Print Sharing, Gigabit NIC and RAID)

Home Theater PC (HTPC) (Surround Sound, HDMI, TV Tuner)

Gaming PC (Powerful CPU, High end video/GPU, Sound Card and high end cooling)

Gaming Consoles: PlayStation, Xbox and Wii

Monitor Controls

Power - Turns the monitor on / off.

Brightness - Using this button or wheel the user can increase and decrease the brightness on the screen.

Contrast - Using this button or wheel can increase and decrease the amount of contrast on the screen.

Horizontal Size - Allows for the picture on the screen to be stretched to the horizontal edge of the monitor.

Vertical Size - Allows the picture on the screen to be stretched to the vertical edges of the monitor.

Horizontal Position - Allows the picture to move moved horizontally, once in the center the user can then use the Horizontal size to stretch it to have an equal amount of black border on each side.

Vertical Position - Like the Horizontal Position, using this button or wheel the user can move the picture up or down to center the picture more appropriately.

Full Screen - Sets monitor to full screen

Degauss - This button will demagnetize the CRT restoring possible color impurities. After this button has been pressed the degaussing circuit will be activated and then deactivated after a few seconds. Pressing and holding this button for a few seconds may cause your computer monitor to reset all data.

Corner / Trapezoid Correction - Using this button or wheel the user can either round the edges of the picture or move the picture inward like an hour glass or outwards.

Vertical Linearity - Sets the width of the vertical lines.

Moire - Removes or reduces the Moire effect if any.

OSD Controls - If the monitor contains OSD controls allows for the OSD menus to be adjusted.

Power Management - Allows the user to define the power management settings through the monitor itself and not the software.

Monitor Status - Displays the current monitor settings such as refresh rate and other settings.

Language - Sets the language on the monitor.

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MEMORY

Internal storage areas in the computer The term memory identifies data storage that comes in the form of chips, and the word storage is used for memory that exists on tapes or disks. Moreover, the term memory is usually used as a shorthand for physical memory, which refers to the actual chips capable of holding data. Some computers also use virtual memory, which expands physical memory onto a hard disk.
Every computer comes with a certain amount of physical memory, usually referred to as main memory or RAM. You can think of main memory as an array of boxes, each of which can hold a single byte of information. A computer that has 1 megabyte of memory, therefore, can hold about 1 million bytes (or characters) of information.

Memory Manufacturers Corsair, Kingston, Rambus, Crucial, Samsung, PNY, Micron

Memory Terminology

Memory speed - measured in nanoseconds, this is the time to access data that is stored in memory
the lower the nanoseconds the faster the memory (2ns-80ns)

Parity - A simple error checking method use in memory correction

ECC-Error correction code use in memory correction for newer computers
Buffer vs. Unbuffer
Registered vs. Un Registered

Memory Banks - A socket where memory is installed Example 4 banks will have 8MB of memory each for a total of 32MB

There are several different types of memory:

240-pin DIMM----------------------------- DDR3 SDRAM

288-pin DIMM--------------------------------DDR4 SDRAM

ROM or Read Only Memory, Computers almost always contain a small amount of read-only memory that holds instructions for starting up the computer. Unlike RAM, ROM cannot be written to. It is non-volatile which means once you turn off the computer the information is still there.

PROM, short for programmable read-only memory A PROM is a memory chip on which data can be written only once. Once a program has been written onto a PROM, it remains there forever. Unlike RAM, PROM's retain their contents when the computer is turned off. The difference between a PROM and a ROM (read-only memory) is that a PROM is manufactured as blank memory, whereas a ROM is programmed during the manufacturing process. To write data onto a PROM chip, you need a special device called a PROM programmer or PROM burner. The process of programming a PROM is sometimes called burning the PROM.

EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to ultraviolet light. Once it is erased, it can be reprogrammed. An EEPROM is similar to a PROM, but requires only electricity to be erased.

EEPROM- Acronym for electrically erasable programmable read-only memory. Pronounced double-ee-prom or e-e-prom, an EEPROM is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge. Like other types of PROM, EEPROM retains its contents even when the power is turned off. Also like other types of ROM, EEPROM is not as fast as RAM. EEPROM is similar to flash memory (sometimes called flash EEPROM). The principal difference is that EEPROM requires data to be written or erased one byte at a time whereas flash memory allows data to be written or erased in blocks. This makes flash memory faster.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is a temporary (Volatile) storage area utilized by the CPU. Before a program can be ran the program is loaded into the memory which allows the CPU direct access to the program.

2 Types of RAM

SRAM Short for static random access memory, and pronounced ess-ram. SRAM is a type of memory that is faster and more reliable than the more common DRAM (dynamic RAM). The term static is derived from the fact that it doesn't need to be refreshed like dynamic RAM.
SRAM is often used only as a memory cache usually found in the CPU (L1, L2 and L3 Cache)

DRAM stands for dynamic random access memory, a type of memory used in most personal computers.

Types of DRAM Packages and DRAM Memory

LAPTOP MEMORY

(72, 144, 200, 204, 260) SO-DIMM

SO-DIMM Short for Small Outline DIMM, a small version of a DIMM used commonly in notebook computers. 72 supports 32bit and 144 and 200 SO-DIMM pins supports a full 64-bit transfer.

(144, 172) Micro-DIMM

Micro-DIMM Short for Micro Dual Inline Memory Module, a competing memory used on laptops, mostly supports 144 and 172 pins.

SIMM Acronym for single in-line memory module, a small circuit board that can hold a group of memory chips. Typically, SIMM's holds up 8 (on Macintoshes) or 9 (on PCs) RAM chips. On PCs, the ninth chip is often used for parity error checking. Unlike memory chips, SIMM's is measured in bytes rather than bits. SIMM's is easier to install than individual memory chips. A SIMM is either 30 or 72 pins.

30 pin SIMM (Usually FPM or EDO RAM)

FPM RAM Short for Fast Page Mode RAM, a type of Dynamic RAM (DRAM) that allows faster access to data in the same row or page. Page-mode memory works by eliminating the need for a row address if data is located in the row previously accessed. It is sometimes called page mode memory.

 

72 pin SIMM (EDO RAM)

EDO DRAM Short for Extended Data Output Dynamic Random Access Memory, a type of DRAM that is faster than conventional DRAM. Unlike conventional DRAM which can only access one block of data at a time, EDO RAM can start fetching the next block of memory at the same time that it sends the previous block to the CPU.

DIMM Short for dual in-line memory module, a small circuit board that holds memory chips. A single in-line memory module (SIMM) has a 32-bit path to the memory chips whereas a DIMM has 64-bit path. Because the Pentium processor requires a 64-bit path to memory, you need to install SIMM's two at a time. With DIMM's, you can install memory one DIMM at a time. A DIMM contains 168 pins.

168 pin DIMM (SDRAM)

SDRAM Short for Synchronous DRAM, a new type of DRAM that can run at much higher clock speeds than conventional memory. SDRAM actually synchronizes itself with the CPU's bus and is capable of running at 133 MHz, about three times faster than conventional FPM RAM, and about twice as fast EDO DRAM . SDRAM is replacing EDO DRAM in many newer computers
SDRAM delivers data in high speed burst

184 pin DIMM (DDR-SDRAM)

DDR SDRAM Short for Double Data Rate-Synchronous DRAM, a type of SDRAM that supports data transfers on both edges of each clock cycle, effectively doubling the memory chip's data throughput. DDR-SDRAM is also called SDRAM II.

240 DIMM (DDR2-SDRAM)

DDR2-SDRAM Short for Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM 2 is a type of DDR that supports
higher's speeds than it's predecessor DDR SDRAM

240 DIMM (DDR3-SDRAM)

DDR3-SDRAM Short for Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM 3 is the newest type of DDR that supports
the fastest speed of all the SDRAM memory

184 pin RIMM (RDRAM)

RIMM Rambus Inline Memory Module, The memory module used with RDRAM chips. It is similar to a DIMM package but uses different pin settings. Rambus trademarked the term RIMM as an entire word. It is the term used for a module using Rambus technology. It is sometimes incorrectly used as an acronym for Rambus Inline Memory Module. A RIMM contains 184 or 232pins. Note must use all sockets in RIMM installation or use C_RIMM to terminate banks

232 pin RIMM (RDRAM)

RDRAM Short for Rambus DRAM, a type of memory (DRAM) developed by Rambus, Inc.
In 1997, Intel announced that it would license the Rambus technology for use on its future motherboards, thus making it the likely de facto standard for memory architectures.

CLICK HERE for a picture and more information on RIMM Installation

SIMM and DIMM Sockets

SDRAM Chart

  168 DIMM (SDRAM)

 

Module Standard	Module Format	Chip Type	Clock Speed (MHz)	Cycles Per clock	Bus Speed	Bus Width (Bytes)	Transfer Rate (MB/s)
PC66	SDR DIMM	10ns	66	1	66	8	533
PC100	SDR DIMM	8ns	100	1	100	8	800
PC133	SDR DIMM	7ns	133	1	133	8	1,066

DDR SDRAM Chart

184 DIMM (DDR-SDRAM)

Module Standard	Module Format	Chip Type	Clock Speed (MHz)	Cycles Per clock	Bus Speed	Bus Width (Bytes)	Transfer Rate (MB/s)
PC1600	DDR DIMM	DDR200	100	2	200	8	1,600
PC2100	DDR DIMM	DDR266	133	2	266	8	2.133
PC2700	DDR DIMM	DDR333	166	2	333	8	2,667
PC3200	DDR DIMM	DDR400	200	2	400	8	3,200
PC4000	DDR DIMM	DDR500	250	2	500	8	4,000
PC4300	DDR DIMM	DDR533	266	2	533	8	4,266

DDR2 SDRAM Chart

240 DIMM (DDR2-SDRAM)

Module Standard	Module Format	Chip Type	Clock Speed (MHz)	Cycles Per clock	Bus Speed	Bus Width (Bytes)	Transfer Rate (MB/s)
PC2-3200	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-400	200	2	400	8	3,200
PC2-4300	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-533	266	2	533	8	4,266
PC2-5400	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-667	333	2	667	8	5,333
PC2-6400	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-800	400	2	800	8	6,400

240 DIMM (DDR3-SDRAM)

Module Standard	Module Format	Chip Type	Clock Speed (MHz)	Cycles Per clock	Bus Speed	Bus Width (Bytes)	Transfer Rate (MB/s)
PC3-6400	DDR3 DIMM	DDR3-800	400	2	800	8	6,400
PC3-8500	DDR3 DIMM	DDR3-1066	533	2	1,066	8	8,500
PC3-10600	DDR3 DIMM	DDR3-1333	667	2	1,334	8	10,670
PC3-12800	DDR3 DIMM	DDR3-1600	800	2	1,600	8	12,800

RDRAM Chart

232 RIMM (RDRAM)

Module Standard	Module Format	Chip Type	Clock Speed (MHz)	Cycles Per clock	Bus Speed	Bus Width (Bytes)	Transfer Rate (MB/s)
RIMM 1200	RIMM-16	PC600	300	2	600	2	1,200
RIMM 1400	RIMM-16	PC700	350	2	700	2	1,400
RIMM 1600	RIMM-16	PC800	400	2	800	2	1,600
RIMM 2100	RIMM-16	PC1066	533	2	1,066	2	2,133
RIMM 2400	RIMM-16	PC1200	600	2	1,200	2	2,400
RIMM 3200	RIMM-32	PC800	400	2	800	2	3,200
RIMM 4200	RIMM-32	PC1066	533	2	1,066	2	4,266
RIMM 4800	RIMM-32	PC1200	600	2	1,200	2	4,800

RAM Desktop Installation

Note RAM Memory Sticks come in the following sizes

8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB

SIMM – Single Inline Memory Module Installation (30 or 72 pin)

1. Place SIMM in a 45 degree angle, push it upright to lock with the corresponding notch on the sides
2. Must be installed in same pairs
3. Must populate first two slots of the SIMM sockets in order for it to work

DIMM – Dual Inline Memory Module Installation (168, 184 or 240 pin)

1. The first thing you do is open the plastic retaining clips on each side of slots you are going to use.
2. Align the cut-out on the module pin connector with the engaging pin on the slot
3. Holding the module upright press down both ends.
4. When the module is correctly seated, retaining clips should lock automatically.
5. DIMM’s can be installed as a single pair (unless it states Dual Channel then you must install it in pairs)

RIMM – Rambus Inline Memory Module Installation (184 or 232 pin)

1. The first thing you do is open the plastic retaining clips on each side of slots you are going to use.
2. Align the cut-out on the module pin connector with the engaging pin on the slot
3. Holding the module upright press down both ends.
4. When the module is correctly seated, retaining clips should lock automatically.
5. Must populate all RIMM slots available
3. If not unpopulated slots must use CRIMM’s (Continuity Rambus Inline Memory Module)

Memory Troubleshooting

MEMORY (when installing use a ground strap because of ESD)
ESD (low and high humidity)
Mixed Memory usually equals fried memory
Parity Errors or ECC Errors (Memory correction errors)
SIMMS must be installed in pairs
RIMMS must be all installed in all slots or CRIMM's must be needed in unvacated RIMM slots
General Protection Fault (memory overwrite)
Not enough memory (computer is slow)
NMI -Non Maskable Interrupt will cause BSOD (Blue Screen of Death)
Multiple beeps when booting up check that memory is properly installed and working
No Video (Reseat memory)
Memory speeds set in BIOS/CMOS Setup
Virtual Memory (Page fault)
Chip Creep - Thermal expansion and contraction

Special Thanks to Rambus, Cosair, PNY, Viking, American Megatrends, Centon, Samsung, Crucial and Micron

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Types of Hard Drives

Internal Hard Drives                                           

Parallel ATA (PATA) or IDE                                           
Serial ATA (SATA)                                                      
SCSI   

      

External Hard Drives

USB
Firewire
eSATA
SCSI  

   

Traditional or Platter Based Hard Drive – is a data storage device that uses platters to store data.                                                 

Solid State Drive – is a data storage device that uses solid state memory to store data.

When buying a hard drive what do you look for?

Capacity:  300GB typical hard drive storage but can go up to 100TB

RPM rotation per minute: 15,000, 10,000rpm, 7,200rpm, 5,400rpm
(the higher the RPM the faster the spin)

Seek time:  12ms, 9ms, and 4.7ms (the lower the ms the faster) the lower the number the better the latency

Buffer: 12MB, 8MB, 4MB, and 2MB (the higher the number the better for temporary storage)

Hard Drive Transfer Speed:

Parallel ATA (PATA) 33, 66, 100 and 133MB/s                   

Firewire 400, 800, 1600 and 3200Mbps

Serial ATA (SATA) 150MB/s, 300MB/s , 600MB/s              

USB 480Mbps and 4.8Gbps

SCSI comes in 33MB/s, 150MB/s, 300MB/s and 640MB/s

Hard drive Manufacturers: Seagate, Western Digital, IBM, Maxtor, Fujitzu, Samsung

Hard Drive Geometry:

AUTO Detect

LBA (504MB)

E/CHS (8.4GB)

Phoenix Interrupt 13th Requests (137GB)

Hard Drive Components

Traditional vs. Solid State Drives

Platter - The actual fixed disk within the hard disk drive
Heads - Each side of a platter
Tracks - Large sections that completely circle the platter
Sector - Section on the track
Cylinder – The same diameter of tracks on each platter
Cluster – The smallest unit of measurement in a hard drive




Hard drive utilities – Scandisk, Defrag and Disk Cleanup

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The components of a computer

Selecting the right component is important to us for two reasons:

1. The choice of components ultimately determines how your PC performs.
2. The choice of components also determines how much your PC costs.

Before we go any further, let's look at the components that make up a typical PC.
Below are examples of each manufacturer components

ATX case and power supply ($50 to $300): The box or shell in which all components are assembled. The cases are available in many types and sizes, ranging from beige cases to funky colored cases. Most tower cases comes with drives bays available. The power supply installed in the case or separate, usually comes with Molex connectors for the hard drives and CD/DVD ROM and Berg connectors for the floppy drives. Also if you plan to pack your PC with components, consider getting a hefty power supply rated at 300 watts or more

.

Case Manufacturer: Apex, Antec, Enlight, and Lian-Li

Power Supply: Antec, Deer

Keyboard ($15 to $75): a device that lets you type information into the computer. Available in PS/2 or USB.

Keyboard Manufacturer: Belkin, Logitech and Microsoft

Mouse ($10 to $75): A small hand device used to interact with GUI such as Windows OS and X Windows by Linux. Consider USB models for the easiest hookup and versatility.

Mouse Manufacturer: Logitech or Microsoft

Monitor ($150 and up): the video display, on which we view our computer work. There are two types of monitors; a CRT model similar to a television or a Flat Panel screen that uses LCD technology.

Monitor Manufacturer: Sony, Viewsonic, Princeton, iilyama, NEC and Samsung

Motherboard ($100 to $200): A large circuit board that holds most of the other components. Buy a motherboard that matched your processor, with room for growth if you want to upgrade to a faster CPU later. Some motherboards have sound and network support built in. But stay away from models with built-in video. They're compromises, at best.

Motherboard Manufacturer: Asus, GB, Intel, Shuttle and Tyan

Processor ($100 to $600): The CPU is the brain of the computer. Choosing a CPU is perhaps the most important factor in how powerful your computer will run. "Boxed" retail CPUs normally include a fan or heat sinks and complete installation instructions; a less-expensive OEM version usually ships sans instructions or a fan. (A fan is a necessity and costs about $25.)

CPU Manufacturer: AMD or Intel

Memory ($75 to $200 for 256MB): Getting sufficient memory in your system is perhaps one the most important thing you can do for your PC. The newer models come in either DIMM or RIMM packages

Memory Manfuacturer: Rambus, Crucial, Kingston, Micron, Samsung and PNY

Floppy disk drive ($15 to $20): This device lets you save small information to your floppy disk.

Floppy drive manufacturer: Teac and NEC

Hard drive(s) ($90 to $250 each): The bigger, the better is still a good rule of thumb. Drives up to 80GB are readily available. And the newest and fastest 7200-rpm drives offer better performance. Consider outfitting your PC with two drives.

Hard Drive Manufacturer: IBM. Seagate, Maxtor, Samsung, Western Digital and Fujitzu

CD ROM ($35-$75): The faster the better use for multimedia experience

CD ROM Manufacturer: IBM, Plextor, NEC, Toshiba

CD-RW drive (optional; $150 to $250): A CD-RW drive is a virtual necessity these days. If your budget permits, go for the fastest write speed possible.

DVD-ROM drive (optional, $75 to $150): Necessary if you want to view DVD movies on your PC monitor.

Removable-media drive (optional; $50 to $500): Choices range from 250MB Zip drives to 2GB Jaz drives, as well as tape-backup drives.

Manufacturer: Sony, Iomega

AGP graphics card ($75 to $400): A small plug-in card containing specialized chips that generate the signals for displaying graphics in your computer. The higher end graphics support AGP and for normal computing you can buy a PCI video card.

Video Card Manufacturer: ATI, Visiontek, Intel, Matrox, Asus

Sound card ($30 to $200): A sound card is plug-in card that can capture, digitize and playback sound.

Sound Card Manufacturer: Creative Labs and Turtle Beach

Speakers ($39-$499): An output device used for amplifying and playing sound.

Speaker Manufacturer: Creative Labs, Labtech, Klipsch and Altec Lansing

Network card ($50 to $100): If you're connected to a network or have broadband Internet access, you'll need a 10/100 Ethernet card.

NIC Manufacturer: 3COM, Intel, Netgear, SMC and Linksys

Modem ($40 to $75): A necessity if you don't have broadband Internet access.

Modem Manufacturer: 3COM/US Robotics, Diamond and Zoom

Cable Modem or DSL ($75 and up): For high speed connection

Manufacturer: 3COM, Lucent and Intel

PERIPHERALS

Ink Jet Printer ($50-$300): An affordable way to print

Ink Jet Manufacturer: Canon, Epson, HP and Lexmark

Laser Printer ($199 and up): A fast way to print especially use for spooling capabilities

Laser Printer Manufacturer: NEC, HP, Xerox and Brother

Scanner ($50-$500) Use to scan text and graphics

Scanner Manufacturer: Umax, HP, Epson, Visiontek

Gaming or Joystick ($29-$99) For the serious gamers

Manufacturers: Logitech or Microsoft

Digital Camera ($199-$1000) Use for taking digital pictures

Digital Camera Maufacturer: Canon, Kodak, Nikon, Sony and Olympus

Projectors ($500-$3000) For doing a presentation

Manufacturer: InFocus, Epson

Microphones ($20) For speaking and listening to music

Manufacturer: Logitech, Veo, Micro, Intel

Drawing Tablet ($99-$799) For the artist

Manufacturer: Wacom

Uninterruptable Power Supply ($99-$599) Battery Backup in case of an emergency

Manufacturer: APC

SOFTWARE

Win 7 $199 Win 2003/2008 Server $585

Operating system and software (free to $220 and up): You can save more than 50 percent by purchasing the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) version of the Windows operating system and of major software such as Microsoft Office. Local computer stores that specialize in building systems and online retailers such as TC Computers and Multiwave can sell you OEM software, provided you purchase a piece of hardware along with it. The only trade-off: You won't get any free tech support on OEM products from Microsoft. If you like, of course, you can opt for an alternative, such as Linux.

I would like to give special thanks to the following companies for their support, PC World, Microsoft, Logitech, Compaq, Altec Lansing, Red Hat, US Robotics, 3Com, Intel, AMD, Linksys, TEAC, Voodoo, Antec, Belkin, Samsung, QPS, Western Digital, Rambus, Crucial, Iomega, Creative Labs, Wikipedia and HP

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