Computer Hardware

Computer Hardware Guide

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:44:15 +0000

Does the technical name of different component of a computer, such as RAM, processor, scares you off? In this article, we will be covering most of the hardware in regardless of the form size (physical size of the computer casing) Essential Computer Hardware consists of Mainboard CPU RAM Hard Disk Drive Graphic Card Power Supply / Casing Keyboard / Mouse Monitor DVD Writer Mainboard (Motherboard) This is the biggest piece of hardware in the system. This is where various other essential components connect onto it, such as CPU, Ram, Hard Disk drive, etc, to it. Modern mid-range mainboard usually comes with add-on component such LAN port, sound card and graphics card. As other hardware connects to the mainboard, it is important to ensure that the mainboard purchased is of high caliber and has at least the add-on component as stated in the paragraph above. Central Processing Unit (CPU) This is one of the computer hardware that determines the speed of the whole system. The other determining hardware are the RAM and Hard Disk Drive. Single Core CPUs are almost obsolete and are much slower compared to their Dual Core / Quad Core counterparts. Usually a numeric figure is stated and that is the clock frequency, commonly known as the speed of the CPU. Usually the higher the clock frequency, the faster your data can be processed. Ram Known as Random Access Memory, are memory chips where data are temporary stored. By storing the data on RAMs, the CPU is able to process the data in a shorter period which leads faster execution of the instructions and tasks assigned to the computer. Usually a numeric figure (in Gb) is stated and that is the physical size of data the RAM is able to store. Hard Disk Drive This computer hardware keeps all data permanently, unlike the RAM which will erase data if the computer is shut down. Comes in sizes of 2. 5″ (for laptop) and 3. 5″ (for Desktop) Usually a numeric figure (in Gb) is stated and comes in various capacity. A rough calculation Assuming a 4 min long music song is stored in mp3 format and takes up 4mb worth of space in the hard disk. 160Gb will be able to store around 40,000 songs! Graphic Card As stated, this card is initially responsible for displaying images onto the monitor. However, due to the high rendering first-person-shooter games being produced, gamers will demand their graphics card to be better than the CPU. This is due to the fact that the graphic card will handle all taxing gaming images which the CPU was unable to process. To meet up the demands, even graphics cards are going dual core! Power Supply Unit (PSU) The life of the computer! This computer hardware sends power to various devices, such as the mainboard, hard disk drives, etc. This is often the most overlooked hardware and is frequently compromised due to budget constraints. However, by cutting down on getting a good PSU, risks such as electric shock and under-current may occurs which could instantly destroy the mainboard and other hardware by providing the wrong current or voltage!! Computer Casing / Chasis Computer case is the tough armor to protect the dedicated various computer hardware. Casing are important as they ventilate and regulate air flow to prevent overheating of the essential computer hardware. Optical Drives Commonly known as CD-ROM / DVD-ROM or DVD Writers, this allows reading of various CDs/DVDs. ROM hardware are only able to read from CD / DVD, while DVD Writers enables writing (copying of data) to the discs. The latest technology for Optical Drive is currently Blu-Ray ROM will allows reading of Blu-ray disc. Due to the high cost, it is not widely included in systems. Monitor Is a visual display unit that shows images generated by the graphic card. CRT monitors that are working today are using older technology which consumes more power. Mainstream monitor manufactured are now mostly LCD due to their compact size and cheaper cost to manufacture. LCD monitors come in various sizes, ranging from a minimum of 15″ to up to 70″! Keyboard and Mouse Is the hardware to input data and commands into the computer. I hope that the above computer guide will assist you in having a further understanding of computer hardware. For more information about computer, do visit S-Mall Computer Article Section. If you are purchasing computers in Singapore, do drop by our website http://www. s-mall. com. sg PR: wait. . . I: wait. . . L: wait. . . LD: wait. . . I: wait. . . Rank: wait. . . C: wait. . .

Build your Own PC

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:44:12 +0000

Build your own PC!
Simple and Fun. Just follow these instructions and you’re on your way to a relatively inexpensive way to building a fast and fully functional personal computer.
Parts Needed:
1. Case with 500 watt power supply – Raidmax Smilodon 89. 99
2. Motherboard Biostar P4m80 46. 99
3. CPU – Pentium 4 Socket 478 3. 0E $79. 99
4. Ram(Memory) PQI 512MB DDR SDRAM 51. 49
5. Hard Drive Seagate Momentus 69. 99
6. CD Burner Lite-on 18. 99
7. Ethernet card – Internet Connection 10. 00
8. Windows XP Home Edition 89. 99
By the way all these prices come from newegg. com
Total cost of parts minus shipping: $457. 43
Can’t forget Windows XP!
$89. 99
Tools Needed:
Believe it or not, all you really need is a good screwdriver set. Philips head and flat head of course. For Safety reasons, never build a computer while it is plugged into the wall. Common sense here people.
Build It!
The process of building a PC consists of several major phases. One of the most important is installing the mainboard into the system case. However, once the mainboard is in the case, it is rather difficult to access it to install components on the board. For that reason most PC assemblers first set up the mainboard with critical components before they put the mainboard into the case. In this section we’ll do exactly that. We’ll start by installing the CPU into the mainboard, then attach the fan, and finally, insert the RAM.
Placing the CPU into its socket is easy, and we’ll do it in three steps. First, we’ll prepare the mainboard to accept the CPU. Then we’ll open and examine the CPU Socket. Finally, we’ll insert the CPU into the mainboard and secure it in place.
Before touching the CPU chip, touch your hands to a grounded piece of metal. Touch the CPU chip only by its edges to protect it from static electricity!
Hold the CPU only by the edges. Due to the pin configuration, the CPU will only insert in the correct orientation. Continue to push the lock lever down. When it gets to the close (fully down) position, gently pull the lever slightly away from the socket to clear the notch that locks it into place. Then, allow the natural springiness of the lever to move the lever back toward the socket so it’s held in place by the notch.
You now have the CPU properly inserted into the socket.
Checking Installation and Connecting the Fan
The installation instructions say you should examine the seating of the heatsink to be sure it’s resting properly on the die. In practice, it’s difficult if not impossible to do this. But, if you have a good light handy, you can peek between the heatsink and the CPU if you want. (Incidentally, a Mini-Mag AA flashlight is a great tool to have handy here. )
Finally, examine the mainboard manual and see where the three-pin CPU fanpower connection pins are. They’re usually clearly marked. Then, plug in the heatsink fan Don’t forget to plug in the heatsink/CPU fan! Do this immediately after the heatsink is installed! If the heatsink fan isn’t plugged in, it won’t work and your CPU will overheat. When your system is fully assembled, it’s a good idea to leave the side of the case off and examine all of the fans to be sure they’re operating properly.
Preparing to Install the RAM
RAM is very sensitive to static electricity. Before picking up a RAM chip, touch both hands to a metal piece to draw any static electricity away from your hands. You might also want to wear a grounding wrist strap when you install the memory. Try to touch the RAM only on its two sides and the top near the sides. The sides are great for picking it up, but you’ll need to push it into its socket from the top. Try not to touch the chips themselves or the metal contacts. And, leave the RAM in its original packaging until you’re ready to install it.
Not touching the metal leads of the memory is also important because oils that build up on your hands can damage the leads.
Examine the RAM sockets and the RAM chip You’ll see that RAM can only be inserted in one direction, because there’s a small cut out separating the metal contacts (also called leads) on the RAM chip into two sides. Each side has a different number of metal contacts, making it impossible to seat the RAM chip incorrectly. Be sure the notch in the RAM chip is aligned with the protruding part on the RAM socket.
→
In Short, your ¾ of the way there! Now Screw in the motherboard to the case. Connect the Power supply to the motherboard and you’re in business. Make sure all connections are made such as connections to the hard drive and cd-burner. Now you’re catching on.
Now it’s test time. Put the Windows disk in the cd drive and plug it in. If all went well, Windows will carry you through the rest.
Congratulations!! You just built your own computer!

College Grad – Arizona State University. Grad student at Springfield College. Majored in Psychology, then as a grad student Industrial/ Organizational Psychology. Now I run 2 businesses. Busy Busy Busy.

How to Build a Computer

How to Build a Computer

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:44:11 +0000

Step 1: component selection
The first and most important part of any computer system assembly is proper component selection, both compatibility- and performance-wise. Ensuring that the memory is compatible with the mainboard, videocard is of the proper interface and supports the necessary features, power supply is of adequate wattage and quality, enclosure having adequate ventilation is a must-do in order to have a trouble-free system which performs as expected. The best ways to make sure that all the candidates for your system are compatible with each other are: Review websites: searching for a review of every part is a good idea, as the editors often indicate whether any issues were encountered. A good review will also give you a performance comparison to other similar parts, so you will know what to expect from your system Salesperson or customer service representative: since it is a part of their job description, a knowledgeable service rep will be able to offer a good advice or suggestion as well as prevent possible complications A knowledgeable friend or acquaintance: chances are high that either you know someone who is into computers or someone you know knows one. Beware of biased opinions thoughIn the end, the more sources of information you use, the better the chances of you getting the right hardware.

Step 2: assembly
Now that you have all the parts, time to make them a whole. Prepare for assembly: make sure you are not wearing synthetic clothes as they could cause an electrostatic discharge and damage the delicate electronics. Also ensure the space is well-lit since you may need to operate with really tiny parts like jumpers. When unpacking the parts, it is best to leave them in/on the electrostatic packaging they came in until installation.
Install the power supply into the case and bolt it down. If it is a modular type then also install the connectors corresponding to the number/type of devices in your system. Now would also be the best time to install the extra case fans, if you got any.
Line the mainboard up with the case (or removable mainboard tray, if your case has one). Screw/snap the standoffs into the case/tray ensuring that you have the same number of standoffs as the mainboard’s holes. If you have one or two fewer, no big deal; if you install an extra one it will touch the mainboard from the backside and will either short-circuit it or prevent it from powering up. Small but important detail.
Install the CPU by opening the locking mechanism on the mainboard and carefully dropping it in (refer to your mainboards’ manual). Do not ever use any force; if it doesn’t fit it means you may need to rotate it. Install the heatsink by placing it on top of the CPU and either pushing the locking pins through the holes (Intel) or locking the lever (AMD). Refer to the manual if not sure. Next, install the RAM modules ensuring that you match the notches (RAM fits only one way), as well as placing the stick in dual-channel mode, if your system supports it.
Now that the CPU and RAM are installed in the board, time to place it inside the case. Before you do that, however, make sure that you place the IO shield (the metal plate with cutouts for mainboard connectors) in the case. Almost every shield is unique, so you must use the one that came with your mainboard. After that, place the board right over the standoffs and bolt it down. Plug the large 20 or 24-pin power connector as well as the smaller 4- or 8-pin 12V power connector into the board. Now connect the HDD activity LED/power/reset button connectors, referring to the manual for proper placement.
Install the optical and hard drives as well as floppy drives and/or card readers into the case. Connect each one to an appropriate data cable, such as SATA cable for hard drives and flat IDE cable for opticals. If you have more than one optical drive, you may need to set the jumpers at the back of the drives, with one drive becoming the master and the other – slave. Plug the corresponding power cables from the PSU into each device as well. Card readers do not require a power cable, and get both power and data through the USB cable connected to the mainboard. Again, refer to the manual for proper USB connection guide.
Install the graphics card and other devices such as sound card and TV tuner. Connect the 6-pinIf you have an SLI or Crossfire platform, connect the two cards with a bridge if required. Note: it is also a good practice to first install nothing but a single videocard into the freshly-built system, as it will prevent possible conflicts which older operating systems are prone to, and then add one component at a time.
Now that your system is assembled, check that every component has power running to it from the PSU: videocard should have one if it is a high-powered one, HDD’s, floppy and opticals should have a data and power cable.
Connect a keyboard, a monitor and the power cable. Now hold your breath and push the power button on the system you have built with your own hands. Considering everything was done properly, it should emit a short beep and start booting. It will stop at the point where it detects that no operating system is present, saying something like: “Boot disk failure, insert a boot disk and press any key when ready”. Read on to find out what’s next!

Step 3: OS and drivers installation and testing
So you have a system that’s successfully powered up and is humming along. But to make it useful, you need to be able to interface with it. In the future, humans will be able to hook directly into the system; today, we use different Operating Systems, with Windows XP or Vista being the most common ones and others like Linux being used in more sophisticated fields. First, restart your computer by hitting Ctrl-Alt-Delete simultaneously. When it starts booting up again, press Delete again right after it beeped in order to go into the BIOS setup. BIOS stands for “Basic Input Output System”, and it performs the most basic tasks such as detecting hard drives before an Operating System has been even installed. Navigate through the options to find one that is called “Boot priority” (refer to the mainboard’s manual). Set one of the opticals as the first boot device, and the hard drive(s) as secondary ones. Put the Windows installation CD/DVD in the drive designated as the first boot device. Now hit F10 to save the settings and reboot. Note: if you have a card reader connected, it might be a good idea to disconnect it for time being; otherwise, the main hard drive may be designated not as C: on some mainboards. Always power down the computer and disconnect the power cable when connecting/disconnecting devices!
This time, the PC will find the Windows CD/DVD in the drive, and will start the interactive installation. All you need to do is answer simple questions such as Time zone, who will be the main user etc. Upon completion of the installation, the computer will finally boot to Windows desktop.
Now, you must be eager to start using your new system. However, there is the last step to be taken: driver installation. Drivers enable the OS to recognize and use the hardware such as graphics and audio cards, network adapters, and even the mainboard itself is not fully functional until the chipset drivers have been installed. All the drivers can be found on the bundled CD’s that came with the hardware. You should install the mainboard drivers first (sometimes the manufacturer creates a program that does all the driver installation for you), then everything else. Remember to reboot every time you are prompted.
Finally, it would be a good idea to test out the new system, to make sure that all devices are functioning properly. To do that, you can either simply use the computer for whatever purpose you created it, or run specialized programs which quickly determine whether your system is fully stable and is able to cope with heavy loads. The most popular ones are the 3DMark series by Futuremark for graphics stability and performance measurement, HDtach for hard drive performance measurements, memtest86 for memory, Prime95 for overall chipset/CPU stability and S&M for extreme load simulation. The exact way to use each one is included in the program’s manual as well as is available on many forums/discussion groups.
There you have it, a pile of parts turned into a complete computer system. Unfortunately, the above guide represents the best-case scenario, and the reality is such that quite often a problem may occur at any one of the above steps, and resolving or even listing every potential one is well beyond the scope of this article. The best way to resolve one is either asking for manufacturer’s help, browsing the forums or maybe even taking the system to the shop to have a certified technician take a look. Either way, there are no miracles and every problem has a fully logical explanation and a way to resolve it.

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A Layman’s Guide to a Computer’s Cpu

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:13:05 +0000

The Central Processing Unit, or CPUThe CPU of a computer is the main lynchpin of the computer system. Without it, nothing happens. It is a small slab of silicone about 10mm (3/8ths of an inch) square and about 2mm thick, which has been etched and doped microscopically to form circuits, switches, transistors and other electronic components: hundreds of millions of these components are embedded in this tiny space. The rest of the physical size of the CPU is taken up by little connecting wires from these circuits to the 100 plus pins on the underside of the CPU chip, a couple of external components, and with heat transfer fins and fans which are needed to cool that little slab of silicone, which is doing 2800 million operations per second! (That’s for an average off the shelf 2. 8GHz computer)The CPU is mainly a calculating unit, and can do complex arithmetic functions. But the CPU is actually made up of a number of distinct modules with different functions, like ultrafast short term storage called cache, traffic control to control the data flows, like a traffic light, and arithmetic units to do the sums. The CPU on it’s own is a dead lump of metal and glass. It needs to be fed data to be of any use. There are various other circuits in the computer that get it started up, such as the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), and this then fires the Operating System up, which starts injecting instructions in the right format to the CPU, and then waiting for the results of the CPU’s work so that this can be passed on to other circuits, like the graphics card for example, in order to display something on your screen. A CPU’s speed is measured in Megahertz or Gigahertz, ie 1 million operations per second (MHz) or 1000 million operations per second (GHz) Thus a 3. 0GHZ CPU will be able to handle 3000 million operations per second. Bear in mind that a calculation or some takes quite a large number of “operations” to complete. CPU’s sometimes get a glitch in their data feed, so that they sit waiting for the next instruction which never comes. There is a circuit built into the CPU that checks for this inactivity, and which then clears and restarts the CPU. Sometimes this also doesn’t work, due to a badly written program or data corruption, and this is known as a computer “hang. ” Rebooting the computer starts the CPU up from scratch, and this clears the “hang” and allows normal operation again. A CPU is normally the most expensive part of a computer, due to it’s extreme complexity, research and development costs, and because a lot of the tiny internal contacts are made from gold or gold plating, and other expensive materials. The gold is used because it is one of the best conductors of electricity, and it doesn’t ever tarnish or rust or corrode in any manner. CPU’s like to be kept cool, so make sure that their fan is always working and that their cooling fins are not clogged up with dust and fluff. Then this technological marvel should give you years of trouble free service.

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The Right CPU For You

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:13:02 +0000

There are a number of way you can go about choosing a CPU. Some require a little skill and research; others are quite simple. No matter what method you choose though, shop around before you buy a CPU. Both online and offline there can be a massive difference in price ranges for particular CPU, within a range. Don’t just buy the first one come across! BUDGET The single most common method of choosing a CPU is based on price. People building a PC usually have a final budget that they are aiming for, and they use this as a basic for choosing the CPU. CPUs can be pricy and will probably the single most expensive component of a PC. There’s a huge difference in price between cheapest budget CPU from Intel and AMD and their high-performance CPU offerings, which are going to be expensive, so it’s no wonder that people use budget as a way to choose. It makes life so much easier. There is a certain logic to using price to determine what CPU to buy. It has always been the case that the top-of-the-rang, fastest CPUs are always artificially overpriced. Wait a few months and the same CPU will have been replaced by a faster one and the price will drop dramatically. Buying a CPU based on budget alone might seem like the easy option, but there are some very important considerations to keep in mind: SHOP AROUND. If you are buying your CPU based on price, then do make sure that you shop around for the absolute best deal you can get. Nothing is more depressing for people than to go out and buy a CPU only to find that could have had the same CPU for far less(or could have had a far more powerful a CPU for their money). CONSIDER THE MOTHERBOARD. Be sure to factor in the price of the motherboard. Expensive CPUs generally require more expensive motherboards, so it’s vital to consider the total cost. FACTOR IN DELIVERY COSTS. Sometimes, what you gain on price you lose on delivery charges. Elevated delivery charges can be a trick used by stores to allow them to have competitive price yet claw that money back on delivery charges. If you are buying on a budget, then find out how much delivery is going to be before placing the order. PERFORMANCE For some people there’s nothing more important than having the biggest, fastest, latest technology. There are number of reasons why people go for the latest technology. Some commonly quoted reasons are: longer technology lifespan (longer before they have to upgrade). They want to play games or run software that demands high performance. They want the latest and best technology. Going for the best in terms of performance is going to be expensive. Here are a few tips to help you get the best deals. Determine How Much Speed You Need How Much CPU power you need depends a lot on what you are going to be doing with your new PC. only you can truly decide how much power you need, but application (general office, gaming, Internet, 3D wire frame and rendering software) you need run will help you decide what range of CPU power you should looking for. Processor speeds are important indicators of speed, but only when compared with CPUs in the same series. Two other specs-Level 2 (L2) cache and front-side bus (FSB)-also play an important role in overall performance. Make Sure That “Top of the Range” Is Really “Top of the Range” Seems obvious, but in fast moving world it’s easy for technology to take a step forward without your noticing. Also, never trust salespeople to either be honest or have the full facts (sounds harsh but it’s true-they are there to sell products to you). Do your own research, on the web and in magazines. Get information from more than one source, and try to find out if there are any imminent CPU releases from either AMD or Intel that would mean you might be better off waiting a few weeks to get the very latest technology.

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AMD Versus Intel CPU War

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:13:01 +0000

If you are in the market to purchase a computer there are many options in existence. You can purchase a Hewlett Packard, Gateway, IBM, or a custom built system. But there is one thing that all of these computers will utilize and that is a CPU (central processing unit). The CPU is responsible for interpreting and executing instructions for the motherboard. CPU’s are key to the functioning of your new computer. CPU’s from Intel and AMD power virtually every personal computer that you can purchase today.
The argument over an AMD CPU versus an Intel CPU and which has a higher functionality is currently raging. Simply two years ago this was not even a question. Anyone would tell you that the Intel CPU won the speed and complex algorithm war with AMD CPU’s without question. Fast-forward to today and Intel is now playing catch-up to the latest in AMD technologies.
Intel played marketing games with their CPU’s pricing them high and touting the functionality that they posses as cutting edge. AMD started out as the cheap alternative CPU manufacturer for computer brands such as e-Machines and low-end Compaqs. From the beginning, AMD CPU’s were fighting an uphill battle to catch up with the technology in the Intel CPU. As the years have progressed, AMD has progressed.
AMD now clearly leads in the consumer pricing wars. AMD CPU equipped machines with similar performance specifications will cost you hundreds of dollars less than equivalent Intel CPU based machines. This cost differential is now enough to push many Intel CPU customers to the upstart AMD CPU equipped machines.
If performance is the main concern over price, the AMD CPU line was the first to include 64 bit technology. In 2003 AMD pushed the first 64 bit CPU to market. It was unstable and unreliable at first. But the underlying architecture was sound. The AMD 64 bit CPU was soon running stable and fast. The performance of this AMD CPU caught the Intel CPU team off guard.
Intel had to rush to market their EMT64 CPU to compete with this upstart challenge from AMD. The next item on the board was dual CPU power. Again, AMD one-upped the Intel CPU rule.
AMD CPU’s have the information transfer on a dual chip machine flowing through the chips. The Intel dual CPU has a bridge to the motherboard where the information that is being processed by the dual CPU’s flows for splitting.
The internal data flow in the AMD CPU’s allows them to function with lower heat generation than the dual core Intel CPU’s. As a consumer this lower heat generation allows the AMD CPU to last longer than the Intel CPU.
If you are energy conscious, then the AMD CPU will be for you as well. The AMD CPU equipped motherboard will function with approximately 275 watts of power. Compare that to a similarly equipped Intel processor at 400 watts of power, and you have major energy savings by going to the AMD CPU.
So where do the Intel CPU’s win out over the AMD CPU’s? The Intel CPU’s are able to function faster with single programs. So, if you are going to play one game and only that game on your machine, the Intel CPU equipped machine can pull and analyze the data faster. However add in chat and e-mail running in the background and the AMD CPU machine catches up.
All in all, the CPU processor war that is currently waging between AMD and Intel is great for the consumer. Each company is in the middle of a CPU processor one-upmanship and both are looking to gain market share.

Chris Hall is the owner of Australian-based StoneBridge Computing specialising in the sale of Computers, Laptops, Hardware and Software. www. stonebridgecomputing. com. au

The Right CPU For You