Please refer to “So you want to build a new computer??!” for part 1 of this series.
The NorthBridge
The NorthBridge is a chip on the motherboard that relays information from the RAM or video card to the CPU. It also links with the SouthBridge which controls your hard drives, sound card, DVD drive and other ports such as USB.
But x48?
Intel’s x48 is a new NorthBridge chip that will link with the RAM supporting a front side bus (FSB) of 1600MHz and a 400MHz boot-strap. The front side bus is the speed at which the memory travels from the RAM to the NorthBridge to be processed and then to the CPU. The kicker here is the speed of the FSB. Of course, the FSB may soon be non-existent by the end of 2008…
RAM or Random Access Memory
When you open too many programs and your computer begins to slow down, some people believed that it was lack of hard drive space when in fact, it was lack of RAM. The term random access memory comes from the data exchange from a hard drive or CPU through the ram to its destination. Simply, the memory is stored on the chip while a process or program is being run. When you close that program, the memory is cleared off the chip. Obviously, the more RAM you have, the easier it will be to run multiple programs at the same time to a certain extent. It has been found that on a 32-bit operating system (OS, a program that acts as a visual interface so you can run other programs and ties the hardware together) (Windows XP or Vista), the OS will only recognize 3.5 gigabytes of memory whereas a 64-bit OS will recognize beyond 8GB of RAM. Will more speed up your computer? You bet!
Video Card
Now, I have already purchased my video card… long before my other parts. Not much will change until the release of the x48 and my CPU, but I bought it because… well it was cheap!
There are a few things to look for in a video card: amount of memory, core clock speed and stream processors. Tom’s has a great guide, although a little old (circa 2006), which will give you probably the best understand of what video cards actually do. For me, I bought my card because of its specs and its very lucrative price.
Check back later in the week when I discuss briefly about Hard drives, DVD-burners and the death of the floppy.
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