The Computer's Brain: Processors and Memory -- Processor Types: A First Look -- Deciphering Processor Terminology -- The Intel Processor Lineup -- Factors Affecting Performance -- History of Intel Chips -- The First Generation: 8086 and 8088 -- The Second Generation: 80286 -- The Third Generation: 80386 -- The Fourth Generation: 80486 -- The Next Generations: The Pentium Family -- Stacking Up the Competition -- Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) -- Cyrix -- PowerPC -- Alpha -- Using Multiprocessor Computers -- Physical Memory -- Random Access Memory (RAM) -- Read-Only Memory (ROM) -- RAM Types -- RAM Speed -- Other ROM Types -- Bus Architecture -- Bus Types -- Storing Your Files: Data Storage -- Keys to Data Storage -- Understanding Hard Drive Basics -- Selecting a Hard Drive -- Performance with IDE Drives -- IDE Interface Standards -- Performance with SCSI Drives -- SCSI Standards -- SCSI Termination -- Organizing Disks -- Understanding Partition Types -- Active and Boot Partitions -- Primary Partition -- Extended Partition -- A Primer on Disk Drive Configurations -- Volume Sets -- Disk Stripe Sets -- Mirrored Sets -- Stripe Sets with Parity Drive -- Stripe Sets with Parity Stripe -- Types of Offline Data Storage -- Floppy Drives -- Removable Disk Drives -- Compact Discs -- Digital Video Discs -- Tape Drives -- Data Movement: Input/Output Devices -- Understanding Serial Ports -- Understanding Parallel Ports -- Understanding USB Ports -- How USB Works -- Understanding Monitors -- Video Display Adapter Standards.