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Motherboard
A motherboard is a large piece of printed circuit board (PCB) that attaches to the inside of your system’s case. Motherboards feature attachments for different computer devices: processors, hard drives, CD and DVD drives, add-on cards, and USB ports. All of these devices connect to the motherboard directly, as in the case of video cards, or indirectly via cables, as in the case of hard drives and optical drives. You can think of the motherboard as a hub, a central station through which all information must pass. The front-side bus (FSB) speed of your motherboard measures how quickly it can pass information along to different PC devices. Faster FSB speeds mean increased system performance.

When a feature is advertised as “onboard,” this means it is integrated directly onto the motherboard. For example, “onboard sound” means that the motherboard has a chip on it which produces sound. The disadvantage in this situation is that sound processing uses system memory (RAM) instead of the specially dedicated memory found on a sound card. The same holds true for onboard graphics and Ethernet. Users concerned with high performance may want to reduce the number of onboard feature to their system by adding cards for certain applications.

Motherboards are custom-built to support a certain range of processors. You cannot, for example, place an AMD Athlon processor on a motherboard designed to support an Intel Pentium 4 processor. Additionally, a motherboard will only support certain types of each kind of processor.

Processor / CPU
The processor, also called the Central Processing Unit (CPU), is the brain of your system. The processor executes instructions, transforming computer code into real-time action. The processor is the single most important factor in determining the speed of a system.

The faster the processor the faster it can handle information and the faster the system will run overall.

In recent years, CPU makers Intel and AMD have introduced many new features to their processor lines. Read on for some definitions of terms related to processors.

Athlon 64 and 64-bit processing (for AMD systems) – While 32-bit processors can only handle 4 gigabytes (billions of bytes) of data, 64-bit processors can address 16 exabytes of information – that’s 3 orders of magnitude beyond one trillion. While that is a futuristic amount of information, 64-bit processors are still attached to modern-day memory and system bus architectures. However, 64-bit processors will not fully realize their potential until the introduction of a true 64-bit operating system and 64-bit software. At present the key to 64-bit processors is not speed, which has been the traditional measure of a processor’s power, but its ability to handle large amounts of data more efficiently than a 32-bit processor. For more technical information, see AMD's website.
Extreme Edition (for Intel Systems) – Pentium chips marked “Extreme Edition” run at an 800MHz FSB, include 2MB of L3 Cache, and support HyperThreading. Extreme Edition processors are designed for high-end gamers and power users.
FSB – Front-Side Bus, the speed of which measures how fast the motherboard can communicate with its RAM and its chipset. FSB speed is measured in megahertz (MHz).
GHz – Gigahertz. The standard measurement of processor speed. 1GHz = 1,000 Megahertz (MHz). AMD’s processors do not use this rating; instead, they go by a numbering scheme that roughly corresponds with certain GHz speeds.
HT – HyperThreading (sometimes abbreviated HTT, or HyperThreading Technology). Technology released by Intel for its Pentium processors. HyperThreading enables the processor to multitask between two software programs at the same time, providing a performance boost of 25-30%.
L2 Cache – Level 2 Cache. A collection of chips on the processor that speeds up commonly-used functions. The more cache a processor has, the quicker it can perform certain functions.
L3 Cache – Level 3 Cache. An extra level of chips on the processor that speeds up commonly-used functions.

Memory / Ram
The term “memory” used by itself is synonymous with Random Access Memory (RAM). RAM acts as temporary storage for information. The processor can grab information from RAM extremely quickly. This technology allows you to multitask, or run several programs on your system at the same time. A spreadsheet, for example, is held in RAM until you save it to the hard drive. While the spreadsheet is open you can do other things like burn CDs, play games, or browse the Internet. Your system’s ability to efficiently handle large amounts of information (whether in a single program or between many programs) is directly influenced by the amount and speed of RAM it contains.

Our systems use DDR RAM, a technology which improves upon Single Data Rate (SDR) RAM by processing twice as many instructions.

RAM is volatile, meaning it is erased when the system is turned off. More RAM means that you can handle larger files and open more applications at the same time.

RAM comes in many different types and speeds. Read on for definitions of technologies used in RAM.

CL2 – CAS Level 2. The CAS level refers to your memory’s latency, the time it takes for your memory to respond when given instructions. Lower numbers are better; CL2 is faster memory than CL2.5, which is in turn faster than memory rated at CL3.
DDR – Double Data Rate. Type of RAM used in nearly all systems and video cards today.
Heat Spreader – A piece of hardware that attaches to a memory module, helping to dissipate heat.
PCxxxx –The internal speed of your RAM. PC4200 memory runs at 533Mhz, PC4000 memory runs at 500Mhz, PC 3700 memory runs at 466MHz, PC3500 memory runs at 433mhz, and PC3200 memory runs at 400Mhz. You will notice that these MHz speeds correspond with the DDR number listed: for example, our 400 MHz memory is listed as "PC3200 DDR400."

Video Card / Graphic Card
A video adapter, also referred to as a video card, is responsible for displaying images on the monitor. Modern video cards stress 3D imaging and include a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) or Visual Processing Unit (VPU) to handle special graphics-related tasks. This design frees up the processor (CPU) to handle other data. Additionally, modern video cards come with increasingly higher amounts of dedicated (onboard) RAM. The RAM onboard the video card ensures that system RAM remains free for other tasks.

Modern video cards generate a lot of heat when they are being used for performance applications such as 3D games. A fan system that ensures your video card does not overheat is essential. Maintaining a moderate temperature is an important factor in system stability.

Faster video cards with more RAM mean quicker games and increased image quality. Gaming enthusiasts may want to consider adding high-end video cards to their systems.

3D games utilize many features on video cards. See Gaming Glossary for more information on these terms.

AGP – Accelerated Graphics Port. The standard interface a video card uses to connect to the motherboard. A motherboard offering an AGP port will accommodate all of today’s newest 3D graphics cards. A number in front of the letters denotes increased speed; for example, “8x AGP” means the video card supports AGP speeds up to eight times its original specification.
Dual Heads – Technology that allows video output to be split among two monitors. Each monitor can display the same image or the image can be split across both monitors. You can also have different programs open on each monitor.

Hard Drive
Hard drives (also called hard disks) store data permanently. The amount of information you can store on your hard drive depends on its size, which is measured in gigabytes (GB). Though this seems like a lot of space, programs and data can quickly gobble up large amounts of storage. Investing in a large hard drive will serve you well during the life of your system.

ATA – Advanced Technology Attachment. Interface that allows hard drives to connect to the motherboard. Revisions of ATA include ATA/66, ATA/100, and ATA/133, all offering increased speeds. Also known as Parallel ATA or IDE, this interface is beginning to be phased out with the introduction of SATA hard drives. Optical drives still require an IDE attachment.
Cache - Similar to the cache on processors, a hard drive's cache stores frequently-used information for quick access. The larger a drive's cache, the more information it can store inside.
GB – Gigabytes. A measure of a hard drive’s capacity to store data. 1 GB equals roughly 1,000 Megabytes.
RAID - Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks. Technology that allows two hard drives to be "striped" together into a single C:\ drive, providing a variety of benefits. The most common setup is RAID 0 Stripe which offers increased hard disk performance since two hard drives are working to process the same data. Most motherboards today provide for RAID, eliminating the need for a separate controller.
RPM – Revolutions per Minute. Hard drives contain a spindle which rotates the magnetic platters. The spindle speed of the hard drive is measured in RPM. Traditional speeds include 5400RPM and 7200RPM. Serial ATA offers speeds of 10,000RPM.
SATA/150 or Serial ATA – Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. High-speed interface for connecting hard drives to the motherboard. SATA replaces ATA by offering increased data transfer speeds (up to 150 Mbps), and cables that are easier to manage inside a system's case. Today's motherboards can support 2 Serial ATA drives in a RAID configuration.

Optical Drive
Optical drives are so named because they use lasers to write and read data off discs. Types of optical drives include CD-ROM, CD-R/W, DVD-ROM, and DVD +/- R/W. Read on for an explanation of some terms associated with optical drives.

Ax/Bx/Cx – Method of referring to the write/rewrite/read speeds of a CD-R/W drive. For example, a measurement of 52x/32x/52x means that drive can write to CD-R discs at 52x, re-write to CD-R/W discs at 32x, and read data from CDs at 52x. For reference, 1x is equivalent to 150 kilobytes per second, which places 52x speeds at around 7,800 kilobytes per second, or 7.8 megabytes per second. High-grade CD-R media, a fast drive, and a great software package are your keys to burning CDs quickly. The same “x” numbers hold true for DVD +/- RW drives (those that burn DVDs). A 4x DVD +/- RW drive burns DVDs at a maximum of 5.54 megabytes per second.
ROM – Read Only Memory. Drives with a “-ROM” suffix can only read data from discs. These drives cannot burn CDs or DVDs.
+/- RW – These letters specify the formats to which a DVD burner can write. Four formats exist: +R, -R, +RW, and –RW. Check the specifications of the drive you have selected to match with the kind of blank DVD discs you buy.

Internal Cables
Rounded Cables vs. Ribbon Cables – Rounded cables increase airflow inside your system’s case. Ribbon cables are flat, wide, and obstruct airflow.

Audio Cards / Sound Cards
Audio cards (also called sound cards) output sound from your system. Higher-end models feature increased audio quality, support for multiple speakers, and a variety of inputs for connecting different audio equipment to your system.

5.1 vs. 6.1 vs. 7.1 – Refers to the amount of speakers in a surround-sound system. The “.1” refers to the presence of a subwoofer; so a 6.1 system contains 6 speakers placed around the room and a subwoofer to reproduce bass frequencies. The entire Audigy 2 ZS line supports a 7.1 setup for your system.
Audigy 2 ZS vs. ZS Platinum vs. ZS Platinum Pro – The different levels of Audigy 2 ZS include different features. The ZS Platinum includes a “breakout box” that handles many different types of sound recording inputs and outputs. The Platinum Pro places this same box outside the case and includes a remote. Each step up the ladder includes more bundled software.
IEEE 1394 FireWire – FireWire (code-named by Apple Computers) is an extremely fast way to connect peripherals to your system. FireWire ports are traditionally used in transferring digital video from a camcorder to a system.

Network Cards
Ethernet network adapters allow your system to connect to a cable modem, DSL modem, or local area network (LAN).

10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet – Mbps stands for “megabits per second” and refers to the speed of data transmission across a network. 10/100/1000 refers to the amount of megabits per second that a card is capable of transmitting: either 10, 100, or 1000 megabits per second, allowing for maximum compatibility with all networks. 1000 Mbps = 1Gbps (Gigabits per second), which is why the technology is referred to as “Gigabit Ethernet.”

USB Ports
USB / USB 2.0 – Universal Serial Bus. USB is a technology that allows all sorts of peripherals, from printers and scanners to mice and sound cards, to connect to your system. USB 2.0 ports improve data transfer rate over the original USB. USB devices can be plugged and unplugged while the system is on.

Mouse
Intellimouse vs. Intellimouse 3.0A – Both of these mice are optical, meaning they use a laser for movement, and both feature a scroll wheel. The Intellimouse 3.0A, however, has extra buttons and a more durable construction.

Operating Systems
XP Home vs. XP Pro – XP Pro allows for detailed system configuration and the ability to network more than five computers together. XP Pro also offers the option to encrypt sensitive files and provides more robust ways to back up your system. For more information, see Microsoft’s webpage comparing the two versions: click here for comparison

Speakers
5.1 vs 6.1 vs 7.1 - Refers to the amount of speakers in a surround-sound system. The “.1” refers to the presence of a subwoofer; so a 6.1 system contains 6 speakers placed around the room and a subwoofer to reproduce bass frequencies. The entire Audigy 2 ZS line supports a 7.1 setup.