Build The Ultimate Custom PC (2005)
.pdf
Appendix A — Useful Websites 349
Table A-2 Useful Software Sites |
|
Name |
URL |
Acronis (backup and hard drive utilities) |
www.acronis.com |
Ad-Aware (spyware/adware scanner) |
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/ |
|
adaware |
Adobe Reader for PDF |
www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/ |
|
readstep2.html |
AVG Anti Virus (free) |
www.grisoft.com |
CDBurnerXP Pro |
www.cdburnerxp.se |
Crimson Editor (free text/HTML editor) |
www.crimsoneditor.com |
DiskInternals (deleted-file recovery tool) |
www.diskinternals.com |
Executive Software (defragmentation and undelete |
www.executive.com |
utilities) |
|
Firefox browser (free) |
www.mozilla.org/products/ |
|
firefoxwww.firefox.org |
IMsecure — instant messaging privacy tool (free and |
www.imsecure.com |
commercial) |
|
McAfee — antivirus software and intrusion |
www.nai.com |
prevention solutions |
|
Microsoft AntiSpyware |
www.microsoft.com/athome/security/ |
|
spyware/software |
Mozilla browser (free) |
www.mozilla.org |
Nero — CD-burning utility |
www.nero.com |
Open Office (free office suite compatible with all other |
www.openoffice.org |
major office suites) |
|
Opera browser |
www.opera.com |
Panda Software (free online virus scan) |
www.pandasoftware.com/activescan |
Paragon (backup and hard drive utilities) |
www.paragon.ag |
PGP (encryption) |
www.pgp.com |
Reports (ISP reviews and free bandwidth tests) |
www.dslreports.com |
ShieldsUp (free firewall test) |
www.grc.com |
SiSoftware utilities |
www.sisoftware.net |
Sophos antivirus |
www.sophos.com |
Spybot Search and Destroy adware/spyware scanner |
www.safer-networking.org |
Continued
350 Part IV — Appendices
Table A-2 (continued) |
|
Name |
URL |
Symantec (antivirus/anti-spam/backup/utilities) |
www.symantec.com |
Sysinternals freeware tools and utilities |
www.sysinternals.com |
Trend Micro (free online virus scan) |
http://housecall.trendmicro.com |
UltraEdit text editor |
www.ultraedit.com |
WinAce (compression utility) |
www.winace.com |
WinZip (compression utility) |
winzip.com |
Zonelabs firewall software (free and commercial) |
www.zonelabs.com |
Table A-3 General Support and Information Sites |
|
Name |
URL |
BootDisks |
www.bootdisk.com |
Computer Hope |
www.computerhope.com |
Darik’s Boot and Nuke (disk-wiping utility) |
http://dban.sourceforge.net |
DriverGuide.com (hardware drivers) |
www.driverguide.com |
Help-Site.com Computer Manuals |
http://help-site.com |
Kingsley-Hughes.com (authors’ website) |
www.kingsley-hughes.com |
Microsoft |
http://support.microsoft.com |
PC Doctor |
www.pcdoctor-guide.com |
PC Hell |
www.pchell.com |
PC Help |
www.helpwithpcs.com |
PC Pitstop (free PC diagnostics and tuneups) |
www.pcpitstop.com |
PC Sympathy |
www.pcsympathy.com |
Practically Networked |
www.practicallynetworked.com |
Software Tips and Tricks |
www.softwaretipsandtricks.com |
TechIMO |
www.techimo.com |
Tek-Tips |
www.tek-tips.com |
The Elder Geek |
www.theeldergeek.com |
Appendix A — Useful Websites 351
Name |
URL |
Troubleshooting Windows XP |
www.kellys-korner-xp.com |
USBMan (USB help and information) |
www.usbman.com |
Windows IT Library |
www.windowsitlibrary.com |
Table A-4 Software Download Sites |
|
Name |
URL |
Download.com |
www.download.com |
Free Download Center |
www.freedownloadscenter.com |
IT Pro Downloads |
http://itprodownloads.com |
Microsoft Download Center |
www.microsoft.com/downloads |
Rocketdownload.com |
www.rocketdownload.com |
TopShareware.com |
www.topshareware.com |
Tucows |
www.tucows.com |
WinPlanet |
www.winplanet.com |
ZDNet Downloads |
http://downloads-zdnet.com.com |
Checklist
This appendix provides a checklist of tools, parts, and software that you will need when embarking on a build-it-yourself PC project. Some items are optional and are marked as such.
appendix
in this appendix
˛PC checklist
˛Tools
˛Hardware
˛Software
354 Part IV — Appendices
Table B-1 Tool Checklist |
|
|
|
Screwdriver, Phillips, size 0 |
|
Screwdriver, Phillips, size 1 |
|
Screwdriver, Phillips, size 2 |
|
Screwdriver, straight edge, size 2 |
|
Screwdriver, straight edge, size 4 |
|
Screwdriver, straight edge, size 6 |
|
ESD wrist strap |
|
Flashlight (preferably plastic body, LED) |
|
Magnifier (optional) |
|
Multitool (optional but really handy!) |
|
Needle-nosed pliers (optional) |
|
Diagonal cutters (optional) |
|
Tweezers (optional) |
|
Multimeter (optional) |
|
Spare ESD bags |
|
Pen/pencil and paper |
|
Adhesive labels (optional) |
|
Plastic cable ties (optional but worthwhile investing in for a professional finish) |
|
Small first aid kit (optional but can be handy for small cuts) |
|
Table B-2 Hardware Checklist |
|
|
|
PC case |
|
Power supply unit (PSU) |
|
Motherboard |
|
CPU |
|
CPU cooler |
|
Appendix B — Checklist 355
|
|
RAM |
|
Hard drive(s) |
|
Video adaptor/graphics card (optional if motherboard has one on-board) |
|
Sound card (optional if motherboard has one on-board) |
|
Floppy disk drive (optional) |
|
Optical drive (CD/DVD/recordable CD/recordable DVD) |
|
Hard drive data cables (one per hard drive or optical drive) |
|
Floppy drive data cable (if fitting floppy disk drive) |
|
Drive rails (needed if fitting hard drive to 5 1/4-inch bay) |
|
Keyboard |
|
Mouse |
|
Monitor |
|
Power cables |
|
Modem (optional) |
|
Network adaptor (optional, sometimes integrated into the motherboard) |
|
Speakers (optional) |
|
Microphone (optional) |
|
Printer (optional) |
|
Table B-3 Software Checklist |
|
|
|
Boot disk |
|
Burn-in software (optional) |
|
Hardware drivers |
|
Operating system |
|
Hardware
Manufacturers
What follows is a listing of hardware manufacturers for a variety of PC components. We’ve chosen the biggest manufacturers here to give you the widest choice possible in hardware for your PC.
This list isn’t definitive, so if you can’t find what you want here or want to look further afield, fire up your favorite search engine and spend a few hours on some web-based research.
Parts and specifications change regularly, so take your time and work through the listings to find the right items for you and your new PC.
appendix
in this appendix
˛Hardware manufacturers listing
358 Part IV — Appendices
Table C-1 Hardware Vendors
CPU |
|
AMD |
www.amd.com |
Intel |
www.intel.com |
Performance Cooling Fans |
|
Akasa |
www.akasa.com.tw |
Coolermaster |
www.coolermaster.com |
Thermaltake |
www.thermaltake.com |
Zalman |
www.zalmantech.com |
Motherboard |
|
Abit |
www.abit-usa.com |
ASUS |
www.asus.com |
Gigabyte |
www.giga-byte.com |
Intel |
www.intel.com |
Microstar/MSI |
www.msicomputer.com |
PCChips |
www.pcchips.com.tw |
Tyan |
www.tyan.com |
RAM |
|
Corsair |
www.corsairmicro.com |
Crucial |
www.crucial.com |
Kingston |
www.kingston.com |
OCZ |
www.ocztechnology.com |
PNY |
www.pny.com |
Hard Drive |
|
Maxtor |
www.maxtor.com |
Western Digital |
www.wdc.com |
Seagate |
www.seagate.com |