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Our Test Bed

I frankly didn't want to start tearing my own system apart in order to provide the pictures and illustrations for this series - and besides, it would be difficult to use it to write, process the images, do research on the Internet and the myriad other things associated with this task if I did.

So, I've enlisted the help of Markham-based Grey-Tech Computers and its owner, Adil Sunderji to provide me with all the parts I needed. I should point out that the system I've cobbled together is not Grey-Tech's top of the line, nor will you find it on special this or any other week. I deliberately sought out older or low-end components that we can replace as we go along - all the better to represent a system that may be a couple of years old and in need of some help.

Adil provided more help than I intended, too. The system components all came separately so Myles could refresh his system-building skills (I used to do this for a living a long time ago).

We've got a generic system case that uses the ATX format, along with an ATX-style motherboard (an Asus P3B-F with Intel 440BX chipset). We're going to start with a Celeron processor, a single 64 MB DIMM (dual inline memory module) running at 100 MHz, a Seagate 1.2 MB hard drive (and a second Fugitsu 45 GB hard drive), floppy disk drive, CD-ROM drive, ATI Rage 2C graphics controller with 4 MB of RAM, a SoundBlaster PCI 128 sound controller, and an A-Open 56K modem. We included a monitor and I'm supplying the keyboard, mouse, and a few other components as we go along.

At a later stage in the process, Grey-Tech will also provide us with a Pentium III replacement processor and Slot 1 conversion kit, updated graphics components, sound card, DVD-ROM upgrade kit and a second system with an AT-style motherboard and case so we can experiment with AMD processors. We're also going to try to get our hands on AMD's new Athlon processor, but because motherboards for this new part are as scarce as hen's teeth, we may not be able to do so before the series runs its course.

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