PC Buying Guide

Introduction • Buying The Right Parts Processor Buying Guide • Processors • Performance • Benchmarks • Platform Flexibility • Performance Per Watt & Heat • Architecture & Design • Pipeline Length • Production Process • Clock Speeds • Bus Speeds • Cache • Overclockability • Special Features • Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) • Independent P-States • Virtualization • Simultaenous Multithreading (SMT) • No Execute Bit / Execute Disable Bit Motherboard Buying Guide • Buying A Motherboard • Performance • Motherboard Layout • Motherboard Cooling • Fan Headers • Thermal Management • General Motherboard Features • Additional Controllers • The BIOS • Legacy Ports • Multi GPU Technology • PCI Express Lanes • Debug LEDs • Advanced Selection Criteria • Capacitors • ESR • Ripple • Dissipation Factor • Load Life • Solid Or Liquid? • Brand Factor • Capacitor-less Motherboards • Power Delivery • PWM & Regulator Quality • Power Phases • Digital PWM

Memory Buying Guide • Buying Memory • RAM Performance For Newbies • RAM Performance For Enthusiasts • Heatspreaders • PCB • Warranty • Memory Chip • Compatibility • Athlon 64 Memory Controller Limitations Hard Drive Buying Guide • Buying Hard Drives • Performance • Benchmarks • Performance Features • Reliability & Other Factors Sound Card Buying Guide • Buying A Sound Card • For Gamers • Frames Per Second • CPU Usage • Hardware Voices • Environmental Audio • 3D Audio • For Audiophiles • Signal To Noise Ratio (SNR) • Frequency Response • Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) • Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) • Crosstalk • Dynamic Range • DC Blocking Capacitors • OpAmp Quality • ASIO Support • SPDIF Accuracy & Clock Jitter • General Features • DTS & DD Decoding • Drivers • Software • Extra Ports The End • Parting Words

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