The Indispensable PC Hardware Book

Key Features:

• Detailed explanation of core hardware topics including:
  • all CPUs; 8086/88 to Pentium and Pentium Pro
  • AMD processors: Am386 to AM5k86; Cyrix CPUs: 386 to 6x86
  • real, protected and virtual 8086 mode with Pentium enhancements
  • addressing, segmentation and paging
  • extended and expanded memory
  • ports, registers and I/O address space
  • BIOS and register programming
  • ST412/506, AT-Bus, IDE, ESDI, SCSI I/II/III
  • interrupts, exceptions and NMI
  • RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memories
  • page mode, static, statics column mode, serial mode, memory interleaving
• Unique coverage of upgrades and clones, overdrives and SLs
• PC architectures from XT via ISA, EISA, MCA to VLB and PCI
• Mass storage and interfaces; parallel, serial and PCMCIA
• Multimedia; concepts and programming of sound cards
• Extensive appendices to provide you with a lasting programming reference

Introduction ... xxiii

Part 1: Basics ... 1

1 Main Components ... 1

Part 2: Processor and Memory ... 39

2 Intel's Microprocessor for Beginners - The i386 ... 39

3 Logical Memory Addressing and Memory Access ... 68

4 Physical Memory Addressing and Memory Access ... 134

5 Basics: Logic Gates and Microprogramming - Two Basic Elements of a Processor ... 155

6 Calculating Semiconductor - The i387 Mathematical Coprocessor ... 165

7 i386 Processor Derivatives ... 190

8 Caching - Cooperation with High Speed Memories ... 198

9 Performance Enhancement - The i486 ... 214

10 i486 Cut-down Versions, Overdrives, Upgrades and Clones ... 254

11 Borrowing form the RISC World - The Superscalar Pentium ... 283

12 Cyrix 6x86 - The P51/2 ... 359

13 Krypton for AMD - The 5_k86 ... 382

14 Pure 32-bit Technology - The Pentium Pro ... 394

15 Compatibility Downwards - The 80286 ... 440

16 The 80287 - Mathematical Assistant in Protected Mode ... 451

17 Everything Began with the Ancestor 8086 ... 458

18 Our Mathematical Grandmother - The MathCo 8087 ... 471

19 Memory Chips ... 479

Part 3: Personal Computer Architectures and Bus Systems ... 521

20 The 8-bit PC/XT Architecture ... 521

21 16-bit AT Architecture ... 534

22 32-bit EISA Architecture - Evolution ... 549

23 32-bit Microchannel - Revolution ... 567

24 32 bits and More - The PCI Local Bus ... 586

25 VESA Local Bus VLB ... 644

Part 4: Support Chips - Nothing Runs Without Us ... 659

26 Hardware Interrupts and the 8259A Programmable Interrupt Controller ... 659

27 8253/8254 Programmable Interval Timer ... 681

28 DMA Chip 8237A - A Detour Highway in the PC ... 700

29 Other Peripheral Chips and Components ... 724

Part 5: Mass Storage ... 753

30 Floppies and Floppy Drives ... 753

31 Hard Disk Drives ... 832

Part 6: Externals and Peripherals ... 927

32 Interfaces - Connection to the Outside World ... 927

33 Local Area Networks and Network Adapters ... 998

34 Keyboards and Mice ... 1007

35 Graphics Adapters ... 1042

36 Multimedia ... 1110

Appendices

A ASCII and Scan Codes ... 1123

B 80x86 Processor Machine Instructions ... 1130

C 80x87 Processor Machine Instructions ... 1142

D Interrupts ... 1148

E BIOS Clock Interrupt 1ah and Functions 83h/86h of INT 15h ... 1151

F BIOS Interrupt INT 13h ... 1155

G Floppy Disk Controllers ... 1167

H Hard Disk Drive Controllers ... 1185

I Access to Interfaces ... 1235

J Keyboard and Mouse Access ... 1243

K Access to Graphics Adapters ... 1258

L Functions 87h and 89h of Interrupt 15h ... 1288

M PCMCIA Socket Services ... 1290

Glossary ... 1311

Index ... 1363

Glossary ... 1311

Index ... 1363