GSBUG Hardware Info SIG

1. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG September 12, 2002

2. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Agenda – September 12, 2002 • 7:00 – 7:05 Administration • 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topic – Other Components (Modems, NICs, Chassis, Power Supplies, HFAs, Fans, Keyboards, and Mice) • 8:15 – 8:30 Hardware News • 8:30 – 8:55 Random Access (Q&A) • 8:55 – 9:00 Recap, Preview, and Close

3. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Administration • Welcome! Please Sign In. • What the SIG is…and is not. • Is – an information resource for computer users and potential computer users • Is NOT – a way to get your computer built or repaired (contact the GSBUG Daytime Hardware SIG) • Log – Random Access/Q&A (First Come…)

4. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Administration (continued): • Presentation materials will be posted at: http://gsbug.apcug.org/hwinfosig.htm • Prior presentation materials are also posted.

5. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components • These materials ONLY address mainstream, non-professional “components” used in or with IBM-compatible PCs.

6. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Modems: • Internal (ISA or PCI card), external (serial and USB) • Typically 56Kbps (53Kbps downstream), V.90 or V.92 (ITU standard); typically includes faxing capability (14.4K) • V.92 adds: • Modem on Hold (suspends for voice after Call Waiting notice) • Quick Connect (remembers line conditions and bypasses parts of line “training” for faster connection) • V.PCM (up to 48Kbps upstream vs. up to 31.2Kbps; faster for online gaming, uploading files)

7. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Primary Modem Suppliers (visible brands) • Best Data (www.bestdata.com) • Creative Labs (Modem Blaster) (www.americas.creative.com) • SONICblue (Supra) (www.sonicblue.com) • Jaton (www.jaton.com) • US Robotics (www.usr.com) • Zoom (www.zoom.com)

8. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Network Interface “Cards” (NICs) • Primarily used to attach systems to a network. Also used to connect a system to a cable modem. • Integrated (onto the motherboard) or by adapter card (ISA or PCI) - 10baseT (Ethernet), 100baseT (Fast Ethernet), 10/100baseT, 1000baseT (Gigabit Ethernet), and 10/100/1000baseT. xxxxMbps (claims to 2000Mbps). • Wireless – adapter “card” (PCI card with PC Card interface) or USB interface to IEEE 802.11b client; 11/22Mbps (22Mbps using Packet Binary Convolutional Coding (PBCC).

9. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Primary NIC Suppliers (visible brands) • Most motherboard manufacturers (using Intel, Realtek, or the chipset manufacturer’s integrated NIC) • 3Com (www.3com.com) • D-Link (www.d-link.com) • Intel (www.intel.com) • Linksys (www.linlsys.com) • NETGEAR (www.netgear.com) • SMC (www.smc.com) • US Robotics (www.usr.com)

10. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Chassis • Typically used to mount: • Internally and externally accessible “drives” (floppy, hard drive, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, ZIP, others) • The motherboard (w/ CPU and RAM) • “Adapter cards” – video, hard drive controller, sound, modem, NIC, specialty (USB, 1394, added serial or parallel, other special purpose) • Power supply(ies) • Cooling fan(s) • Internal cables of various types/uses.

11. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Chassis (continued) • General, non-mobile chassis “types”: • “Desktop” (classically lays horizontally, monitor on top) • Tower – stands vertically; includes: • Small form factor (SFF) tower • MicroATX tower • Mid-tower • Full tower • Server tower – wide range • Rack-mount (pizza box shape; typically for servers) • “Interfaces Points” – rear (I/O shield), front

12. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Chassis (continued) • Primary Chassis Suppliers (visible brands) • Addtronics (www.addtronics.com) • Aopen (www.aopen.com) • Chenbro Micom (www.chenbro.com) • Compucase (www.compucase.com.tw) • Enlight (www.enlightcorp.com) • In-Win (www.in-win.com.tw) • Min Maw (MMI) (www.minmaw.com)

13. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Chassis (continued) • Primary Chassis Suppliers (visible brands, continued) • Supermicro (www.supermicro.com) - primarily for servers • Superpower (www.superpower.com) • Yeong Yang (www.yeongyang.com) • There are hundreds of other chassis suppliers. • FYI, Intel also builds chassis - for OEMs and SIs (system integrators) – typically only for servers (www.intel.com).

14. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Power Supplies • Receives power “from the wall” and distributes it the motherboard and “drives”. Some older styles may also provide a connection for your monitor. • Typically a PS/2 form factor with an ATX or ATX12V interface to the motherboard. • Wattage from approximately 145 – 450+. • Server applications may include redundancy (N+1) and “hot-swap” capability. • Typically support 110/220v power source (via switch).

15. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Power Supplies (continued) • Primary Power Supply Suppliers (visible brands) • Antec (www.antec-inc.com) • Delta (www.deltaww.com) • Enermax (www.enermax.com.tw) • Enhance (www.enhanceusa.com) • NMB (www.nmbtech.com) • PC Power & Cooling (www.pcpowercooling.com) • Seasonic (www.seasonic.com) • Sparkle (Fortron/Source) (www.sparklepower.com) • Topower (www.topower.com) • The are hundreds of other brands.

16. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Heat Sink Fan Assemblies (HFAs) • Used to remove heat from (cool) your CPU. • The fan typically receives power from the motherboard. • Most modern motherboards have a sensor to monitor operation of the fan – alarm if set to do so in the BIOS. • Included with “boxed processors”. • The heat sink is typically aluminum – exotics may be copper or include a copper base. • Fan may have sleeve or ball bearings – ball is preferred. • Ultra-high-performance fans may run at speeds over 5000 rpm and require a direct connection to the PS.

17. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Heat Sink Fan Assemblies (HFAs) (continued) • Primary HFA Suppliers (visible brands) • Aavid (www.aavid.com) • Alpha (www.alphanovatech.com) • Cooler Master (www.coolermaster.com) • Dynatron (www.dynatron-corp.com) - AMD PIB program • Global WIN (www.globalwin.com.tw) • Sanyo Denki (www.sanyodenki.co.jp) - Intel boxed program • TaiSol (www.taisol.com) - incl. heat pipe solutions • Thermaltake (www.thermaltake.com) • Fan noise level can be extreme – 50+ db(A).

18. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Fans (Case Fans) • Typically NOT required. • If added (for extra cooling), the exhaust fan is the priority. An intake fan is optional (may make things worse if the air flow is not properly channeled). • Some overclockers use multiple intake and exhaust fans. • Size range – 60-120mm exhaust, 80-120mm intake. • Fan speeds vary from under 2000 rpm to over 4000 rpm. • Noise levels can be extreme – above 50 db(A) • Air flow can be vary from under 20 to over 190 CFM.

19. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Fans (Case Fans) (continued) • Primary Case Fan Suppliers (visible brands) • Delta (www.deltaww.com) • emb/Papst (www.emb.com) • Sanyo Denki (www.sanyodenki.co.jp) • Sunon (www.sunon.com.tw) • Top Motor (www.dynatron-corp.com) • YS Tech (www.ystech.com.tw) • NOTE: Because of the high power requirements of case fans, run them off the power supply, NOT the motherboard.

20. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Keyboards • The primary text data input device for your system. • Selection is highly subjective – what feels good, has the right key spacing and size (enter key), and the extra features you want (Internet keys, etc.). • Typically use either a PS/2 or USB interface. • Wired and wireless – look for use of a single receiver with wireless combos (mouse and keyboard).

21. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Keyboards (continued) • Primary Keyboard Suppliers (visible brands) • BTC (www.btcusa.com) • Chicony (www.chicony.com) • Fujitsu (www.fujitsu.com) • Key Tronic (www.keytronic.com) • Logitech (www.logitech.com) • Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) • Mitsumi (www.mitsumi.com) • NMB (www.nmbtech.com) • Hundreds of other brands. All suppliers have a wide range of models. Try before you buy!

22. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Mice • The primary navigation device used within your operating system’s GUI (graphical user interface). • Ball, trackball, or optical. • Wired or wireless – look for use of a single receiver with wireless combos (mouse and keyboard). • Like your keyboard, the selection is very subjective. • Speeds and button/wheel functions are adjustable within the OS and through utilities supplied with the product.

23. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Other Components (continued) • Mice (continued) • Primary Mouse Suppliers (visible brands) • Kensington (www.kensington.com) • Logitech (www.logitech.com) • Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) • There are hundreds of other suppliers. • Each supplier has a wide range of models. Try before you buy!

24. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News • Processors • AMD released the Athlon XP 2400+ (2.0GHz) and 2600+ (2.13GHz) – simple desktop line extensions; Thoroughbred core, .13 micron. AMD also released the Athlon MP 2200+ (1.8GHz) for servers and workstations – first based on the Thoroughbred core, .13 micron. • Intel released four Pentium 4 processors - 2.5GHz/400MHz FSB, 2.6GHz/400MHz FSB, 2.66GHz/533MHz FSB and 2.8GHz/533MHz FSB. Simple line extensions. • Major price drops from both AMD and Intel.

25. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Core Logic (chipsets) • SiS released (when?) the SiS746 Northbridge for AMD processors - 266MHz FSB, 333MHz memory bus, max 3GB RAM, AGP 8X. Also released (when?) the SiS963 Southbridge – same spec as 962 with faster NB-to-SB bus. • VIA announced the KT400 (VT8368) Northbridge for AMD processors – 266MHz FSB, 333MHz memory bus, max 4GB RAM, AGP 8X (basically the KT333 with AGP 8X).

26. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News • System RAM – nothing new • Motherboards • Gigabyte released the GA-7VAXP – VIA KT400/8235 chipset, max 3GB PC2700 DDR SDRAM (DDR333), AGP 8X, ATA/133 plus Promise ATA/133 RAID, LAN,1394, USB 2.0, and 6 channel AC97 audio. • Graphics processors & cards • Gigabyte and Hercules announce ATI RADEON 9700 PRO-based video cards. FIC, Gigabyte, Tyan and others announce ATI RADEON 9000 PRO-based cards. Creative 9700 card reviewed but not yet released.

27. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Hard Drives • Maxtor announced 80GB/platter drives (DiamondMax 9 and 16 series) – from 60-160GB, 7200 rpm, ATA/133, optional 8MB cache. Also announced shipments of SATA/150 versions starting in December. Detail specs not available. • Maxtor announced that effective October 1, 2002 the standard warranty for desktop drives drops from three (3) years to one (1) year.

28. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Hard Drive Controllers • 3ware announced the Escalade 8500 series SATA/150 RAID controller in 4, 8 and 12 port configurations; includes RAID 5 support. • Adaptec announced the 2120S single-channel and 2200S dual-channel Ultra320 SCSI RAID controllers for servers and workstations.

29. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Other Drives • Iomega released a 750MB version of its ZIP drive - USB 2.0 interface (IEEE-1394 and ATAPI to follow); up to 7.5MB/sec transfer rate (press release). Spec not posted. • Plextor released PlexWriter 48/24/48A (ATAPI) and 48/24/48U (USB 2.0) CD-RW drives; 4MB buffer. • Sound processors & cards • Hercules released the Fortissimo III 7.1 sound card – supports 1 center, 2 front, 2 rear, 2 Surround, and 1 sub-woofer; based on the Crystal CS4624 sound processor.

30. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Modems & NICs – nothing new • Chassis & power supplies – nothing new

31. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Random Access (Q&A)

32. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Recap, Preview, and Close • Recap • Preview • Featured Topic for October 10, 2002 – Your New System: Planning Phase • Close (please police up the area)