In laptops and tablets, and increasingly even in desktops, the motherboard often incorporates the functions of the video card and sound card. However, it also prevents those built-in parts from being upgraded. Although real mode is utilized by 16-bit DOS and “commonplace” DOS applications, particular packages have been obtainable that “extended” DOS and permit entry to extended reminiscence . These are sometimes known as DOS extenders and are normally included as a half of any DOS or Windows 3.x software program that uses them. The protocol that describes tips on how to make DOS work in protected mode is called DPMI .

In many circumstances a excessive end gaming PC will provide equal performance at a fraction of the cost of a workstation. For these users, simply including the peripherals utilized by specific workstation setups can effectively flip their regular computers right into a type of psuedo-workstation. Any reasonably configured pc built from present parts will provide sufficient Internet searching and word-processing capabilities. As long as you provide enough RAM for your chosen operating system , any processor you ought to buy new will present acceptable performance.