Hi about 2 months ago I got a new computer everything about it I am happy with except it has a pretty lousy CPU so I just got a few questions about it (and other computer DIY questions) If you could answer as many as you can Id be very happy (some are pretty nooby soz)

My Specs:
Motherboard: Asus P5GC-MX M/B
CPU: Intel Core Duo E2140 1.6 GHZ
Graphics: Nvidia GeFore 7200GS 256mb
RAM: 2gb
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1. What does RPM (Revs Per Minute) matter for a hard drive?

2. Whats a 'graphics card chip' on a motherboard do?

3. Whats the different cores (Quad, Duo) do for a CPU?

4. What is a 'chipset' (or a motherboard chipset)?

5. Whats 'Cache' memory do in a processor?

6. In graphics cards whats the difference between GT, GTX and GTS?

7. How do you tell if your processor is compatible with your motherboard?

8. How do you overclock a processor, how much can I overclock my processor and what are the risks?

9. What is RAID?

10. How do you update your bios and graphics card? (and what are the benefits)

11. In basic terms how does a processor work?

12. What do heat spreaders do on RAM?

13. On a case fan, which side should face out?

14.Is overclocking permanent?

15. What do MHz in RAM matter?

16. Which is better, to have an older processor with more MHz or a newer processor with less Mhz?

Thanks Guys.

Elliot

i can only answer a few for ya...

5. Whats 'Cache' memory do in a processor?
a cache in a processor temporarily stores ur recently opened applications, for example internet explorer, firefox, games, etc... this is so that it loads faster than it usually will going to the HardDrive, different processors have different level cache's and different size cache's

7. How do you tell if your processor is compatible with your motherboard?
your motherboard booklet should tell u if it is compatible with Intel or AMD processors, also you can tell by the socket type, for example if ur motherboards supports LGA 775 then it is compatible with LGA 775 processors (Intel), if it AM2 Socket type then it is compatible with AM2 processors (AMD).

8. How do you overclock a processor, how much can I overclock my processor and what are the risks?
You can overclock your processor by following merlin's tutorial http://www.pchelpforum.com/overclock...rclocking.html
and for by saying "how much can i overclock my processor, that depends on how much time u take on it and how well u watch the temperature of the CPU. it's also explained in merlin's tutorial

10. How do you update your bios and graphics card? (and what are the benefits)
u can update ur bios via the CD which comes with ur motherboard, or u can also download the latest drivers for it via the motherboard website. same with the graphics card, you can update the drivers via CD which came with it, or via the manufacturer's website. also another way for the graphics card update is to goto device manager then update ur video drivers. the latest DirectX version for windows XP is DirectX 9.0c

12. What do heat spreaders do on RAM?
Heat Spreaders basically as the name says, spreads out the heat on the RAM instead of the heat building up in one area.

13. On a case fan, which side should face out?
the side which u normally take off (usually the opposite side of the motherboard (where the processor fan is, and also usually on the left side of the PC)

14. Is overclocking permanent?
Well it depends u can overclock to say from 1.6Ghz to 2.6Ghz and say ur unstable @ 2.6Ghz then drop the Ghz down to where it's stable at and that's the stable overclock of ur CPU, so i wouldn't say it is permanent as u can change it back to ur standard settings (if u wish), but it DOES reduce the life span of the CPU.

16. Which is better, to have an older processor with more MHz or a newer processor with less Mhz?
it depends on the Ghz, cache, Core's, etc. basically u need to compare which u want.

Don't have time to answer any myself but will pick up on this one:
Also you should check your motherboard manufacturers website as that will have a list of all the supported processors

1. What does RPM (Revs Per Minute) matter for a hard drive?

The higher the RPM the quicker the HD spins so it reads and writes quicker