31_575767 bindex.qxd 12/28/04 8:42 PM Page 337 Index ports, 162–170 • Numerics • printers, 184 2-in-1 Dual Trigger (Thrustmaster), 330–331 Ray (Everglide) light-up mouse pad, 3Com networking equipment, 155 332–333 3-D scanners, 184 audio sound card, 126, 127–128 speaker systems, 181–183 benchmarking, 102 Super Multi DVD Drive GSA-4120B driver control applet, 113–114 (LG), 335 graphics card, 27, 116 2-in-1 Dual Trigger (Thrustmaster), graphics standards, 99 330–331 memory usage, 109 X-5500 speaker (Logitech), 333–334 scalability, 105 Zen Touch portable music player 3DMark05 benchmark, 102 (Creative), 334–335 32-bit CPU, 87 acoustic effects, sound card, 130–131 64-bit CPU, 87 ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface), 213 acrylic front panel • A • composition, 38 painting, 308 Abit Web site, 83 acrylic window AC’97 codec, 78 cutting, 287–288 Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) bus securing, 18 contacts, location of, 110 Ad-Aware SE Personal, 228 described, 74–75 address fields, 87 expansion cards, installing, 50 ad-hoc network, 153 graphics card, memory allocation, 116, Advanced Configuration and Power 211–212 Interface (ACPI), 213 access point, wireless network, 153, 156 Advanced Technology Attachment packet accessories interface (ATAPI) BIOS integrated, 212–213 described, 146 budget, 170 hard drive, enabling DMA mode, 236–238 described, 161–162 installing, 149–150 Diamondback GamingCOPYRIGHTED Mouse (Razer), 328 MATERIAL motherboard expansion slots, 64 displays, 178–181 adware external storage, 184 described, 225 gaming controllers, 175–177, 182 removing, 228 Gaming Keyboard (Saitek), 329 AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus installing, 185 contacts, location of, 110 iPod (Apple), 329–330 described, 74–75 keyboards, 171–172, 177 expansion cards, installing, 50 mouse, 172–174, 177 graphics card, memory allocation, 116, MX510 Optical Mouse (Logitech), 336 211–212 PistolMouse FPS (MonsterGecko), air cooling CPU, 264–265 331–332 air filters, 259 31_575767 bindex.qxd 12/28/04 8:42 PM Page 338 338 PC Modding For Dummies algorithm, audio, 128 operating frequency, assessing, 243 Allen head screwdriver, 17 64 bits, 87 aluminum cases speed, 90 cutting, 40 ATI graphics card metal shards, protecting against, 19 control applet, 112–114 painting, 303 graphics processors, 110–111 AMD home theater features, 107–108 features, 88 listed, 117, 118 Intel versus, 84–85 manufacturers, 99 memory, 92 overclocking, 249 operating frequency, assessing, 243 power supply, 55–56 power connectors, 64 ATX form factor AnandTech Web site, 119, 317 advantages, 39 animation, game, 100, 105–107 layout, illustrated, 40 anode, 302 motherboard, 73 antialiasing ATX12V power supply game, adjusting, 107 connectors, 55 graphics cards, 110–111 described, 25, 53 antistatic bags, 20 audio card. See sound card antistatic bracelet, 22 audio processor, 78 antivirus protection CPU features, 88 Internet-connected computers, 159–160 • B • AOpen Web site, 83 background service programs, disabling, APIs (application program interfaces) 229–232 graphics card compatibility, 99 backups sound card compatibility, 125–127 hard drive failure and, 28, 142 Apple iPod from HP, 329–330 before installing Windows XP, 189 applications optical drives, using, 145 categories, 187–188 ball mice, 173 device drivers, installing, 185, 199–200 Basic Input/Output System. See BIOS DirectX, updating, 202 battery, motherboard, 69 information, sending in threads, 14 bays overclocking, 242 ATX board, finger-friendly layout of, 39 unwanted, eliminating in Windows XP, components, mounting, 45–49 224–225 bench, 19, 21 Arctic Cooling products benchmarking graphics card thermal compound, 91 performance described, 101 VGA Silencer, 115 with games, 102–105 ASUS Web site, 83 synthetic tool, 102 AT form factor, 39 timing, 102 ATAPI (Advanced Technology Attachment vertical synchronization, turning off, 103 packet interface) Bennett, Kyle ([H]ard|OCP Web site described, 146 curator), 316 hard drive, enabling DMA mode, 236–238 bezels installing, 149–150 dummy, 42 motherboard expansion slots, 64 motherboard, 43, 44 Athlon processor painting, 310–312 chipsets, 73–74 31_575767 bindex.qxd 12/28/04 8:42 PM Page 339 Index 339 BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) FireWire types, 168 advanced features, 209–210 SATA versus IDE, 139 cautionary note about tweaking, 14 cache, 59, 86, 88 chipset features, 210–212 capacity, hard drive, 136–137 CMOS features, 208–209 card, expansion core components and, 76–77 build/mod order, 31 described, 14, 207–208 components, mounting, 50 integrated peripherals, 212–213 edge covered in gold stripes, 20 motherboard, 69 slots, 41, 43 overclocking, 215 card, graphics PC health status, 214–215 AGP bus, 74 PCI and PnP configuration, 214 ATI, 249 power management, 213–214 build/mod order, 31 setup program, 190 choosing, 115–119 updating, 215 control applet, 112–114 bit-tech Web site, 318 described, 98–100, 247 bleeding liquid-cooled system display settings, 112–115 assembly, 268, 269 gains achieved by, 248 process, 271–274 game animation, frame rate versus image blocking quality, 105–107 unwanted items from starting, 225–228 graphical features, 110–111 viruses, 159–160 home theater features, 107–108 blowhole importance of, 97 cutting hole and adding screw holes, listed, 117, 118 261–263 manufacturers, 97, 99 finishing edges, 263 as media center, 107–108 installing fan, 264 NVIDIA, 249–251 preparing to cut, 260–261 overclocking, 249 reasons for, 258–259 parts list, 27 saws, 260 performance, gauging, 100–105 tools for cutting, 17 physical features, 109–110 windows, cutting into, 324 power supplies, 55–56 boot priority, 209 VGA ports, 165 boot up card, network, 154–155, 156 floppy drive, seeking, 210 card, sound NumLock status, 210 acoustic effects, 130–131 bootstrap process, 76 APIs, 125–127 buffer, hard drive, 137 build/mod order, 31 bump maps, 107 digital audio outputs, 129–130 burst rate, 138, 147 external, 125 buses FireWire, 129 efficiency, 12 importance of, 121 memory access, 109 installing, 131–133 motherboard, 73–75 MIDI/wave table support, 131 overclocking, 243 motherboard audio, 123 parts list, 27 ports, 164 • C • sample rate and bit depth, maximum, cables 128–129 Ethernet, 153, 156 31_575767 bindex.qxd 12/28/04 8:42 PM Page 340 340 PC Modding For Dummies card, sound (continued) cold cathode lighting, 293–294 SoundBlaster, 122 color speaker compatibility, 123–124, 182 painting case, choosing, 304 3-D audio, 127–128 spraying on, 309 CAS (Common Access Strobe), 211 Windows XP, adjusting, 220 case colored motherboard, suppliers of, 82 air cooling CPU, 264–265 COMM ports, 162–163 blowholes, adding, 258–264 Common Access Strobe (CAS), 211 choosing, 40–41 Complementary Metal Oxide clear, building, 325 Semiconductor. See CMOS computer without, 326 components described, 15–16 case slots and screws, 41 fans and fan grills, 30 drive bays and storage devices, 45–49 form factor, components matching, 38–40 expansion cards, 50 importance of choosing correct, 37–38 matching to form factor, 38–40 liquid-cooling CPU, 265–274 motherboard, 43–45 mounting components, 41–50 computer screen parts list, 24–25 CRT, 178–180 positive versus negative airflow, 257–258 DPMS, suspending with, 213 slots and screws, 41 game, tweaking, 106 window, preparing, 283–285 graphics card, 112–115 CaseModGod Web site, 320 LCD, 180–181 Catalina sound card (Turtle Beach), 122 multiple, 109 cathode, 302 parts list, 29 CD-ROM connectors Windows XP, booting, 190–191 ATX form factor, 39, 53, 55 X ratings, 147 fan, 71 CD-RW drives, 147–149 floppy drive, 64, 66 CDs front panel pins, 69–70 music, creating, 145 IDE and floppy drive to motherboard, sample rate and bit depth, 129 64, 66 central processing unit. See CPU; CPU SATA versus Molex, 140 overclocking USB keyboard and mouse, 39 CFM (cubic feet per minute), 257–258 contact edge, expansion card, 20 Chaintech Web site, 83 controllers, gaming Chen, Ed (Gideon X modding genius), described, 175–177 317–318 force feedback, 182 chipset keyboard and mouse as, 177 BIOS features, 210–212 cool blue lights, power supply, 54 motherboard, 67, 73–75 cooling voltage, 52 build/mod order, 32 clear case, building, 325 case, 257–264 clear enamel, adding, 309–310 CPU, 91 CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide electronic, 276–277 Semiconductor) GPU, 115 errors, halting on, 209 graphics cards, 274–276 floppy drive, setting up, 208 overclocking and, 239, 240, 255 time, setting, 208 stock, 26, 255–256 video option, 208 temperature, monitoring, 256–257 31_575767 bindex.qxd 12/28/04 8:42 PM Page 341 Index 341 cordless screwdriver, 17 Creative Zen Touch portable music player, core components. See also motherboard 334–335 BIOS and, 76–77 CRT monitors, 178–180 CPU, 84–92 Crucial memory modules, 94 described, 59–61 cubic feet per minute (CFM), 257–258 Ethernet controller and audio chip, 78–79 curves, cutting, 280, 286, 323 FireWire, 82 cutting case frequencies, 61 blowholes, 261–263 memory, 92–95 fancy windows, 323 RAID, 77–78 tools, 17–19 USB, 79–81 window, 285–287 Corsair memory modules, 94 cost CD/DVD burners, 149 • D • CPU, 26 DDR memory, 92, 93 GPU, 116 decals, decorating windows with, 324 graphics card, 115–116 decorating windows, 324 memory, 95 defragmenting hard drive motherboard, 25, 61 benefits of, 234 peripherals, 170 frequency, 235 power supply, 58 quick method, 235–236 tools, 16 design updated pricing guides, 317 drawing, 284 CPU (central processing unit) window cut, 280 ATX form factor, finger-friendly layout device driver of, 39 installing, 185, 199–200 brands, Intel versus AMD, 84–85 3-D control applet, 113–114