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Motherboard buying guide 2007-10-06 22:10:46 Motherboard
Recommended component: supports DDR or RDRAM with space for memory expansion, Ultra ATA/133, 4 USB 2.0 ports, 4x AGP slot; has spare PCI slots
Minimum recommended: uses DDR memory with room for memory expansion, Ultra ATA/100, 2 USB ports, 4x AGP slot
Corporate: supports DDR with space for memory expansion, Ultra ATA/100, 4 USB ports, 4x AGP; has spare PCI slots
The motherboard is the main component inside of a computer. It is also called the “mainboard,” or, “mobo,” for short and holds the processor, memory, and any add-in boards. It’s inside the case and is the component that all of your peripherals plug into. (If you open up the case, it’s the part that looks like a big, usually green — but can be any color, circuit board.) Strangely enough, the motherboard is seldom mentioned in ads because it’s seldom thought of. For most people, it’s just “there.”
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Graphics card buying guide 2007-10-05 21:45:33 Graphics cards are usually a fairly simple upgrade to your personal computer, only requiring a small screwdriver to open the case and replace or add the card. The hard part is determining which one, though, as there are many different types available, many of which can be found on eBay Australia, both new and secondhand. In order of oldest to newest, they are split into PCI, AGP and PCI Express connections. This guide is written to help you find which card is suitable for your computer, and what features are available so that you know what to look for.
Why upgrade?
Graphic cards help take the load off the main processor and take care of what is displayed to you. The most common uses are for gaming and video display, but they are also used in specialised areas like engineering and computer aided design. Because of their different purposes and that they are effectively another computer on a card, they vary in their connection type, the type of connectors available, processing power, mem Read more:Graphics
Speaker Buying Guide part 6 2007-10-05 08:48:01 SEPARATE SPEAKERS
Cherry-picking the front, center, surround, and subwoofer speakers, you can better select the solution that meets your precise needs. We’ll also let you know how best to blend your current speakers into a surround setup.
Speaker
-matching Q&A
Question: Multibrand matching–can I use my old speakers and new ones together in a surround system?
Mixing a different brand of surround speaker or subwoofer with your stereo speakers might be a risky proposition. Center speakers are the trickiest; mismatching the left-center-right speakers may result in jarring timbre shifts when the sound is panned across the front three speakers. Matching surround speakers is less critical, but in any case, try to arrange a home audition.
Question: Unibrand matching–do all JBL speakers go together? Can I match big towers and small surrounds?
Chances are same-brand speakers of a given vintage will sonically match, but when in doubt, check with the company’s customer s Read more:Buying
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Speaker Buying Guide part 5 2007-10-04 07:49:09 SPEAKER PACKAGES
Packaged systems take the guesswork out of buying the most important part of any surround-sound system. We’ll go through their component speakers and let you know what to look for.
Front-left and front-right speakers
You can choose from miniature 4-inch-tall satellites or move up to hulking tower speakers. There’s a size and shape for every taste. While the best small speakers can sound awfully good, they produce less bass and have loudness limitations compared to larger speakers. Full-size, 38-inch-tall or larger tower speakers frequently offer the best overall sound, though midsize 12- to 15-inch-tall bookshelf speakers may be the best compromise for sound-conscious buyers who can’t accept the visual intrusion of full-size speakers.
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Speaker Buying Guide part 4 2007-10-03 07:07:27 WHERE WILL I PUT ALL THOSE SPEAKERS?
Surround sound requires at least five satellite speakers and a subwoofer, but there are exceptions to that rule. In this section, we’ll go through speaker placement options and outline surround-sound alternatives that use fewer than six speakers.
Speaker
placement
Before shopping for speakers, try to imagine where you’re going to put them in your room. Speakers can be placed on floor stands, hung on wall brackets, or placed on furniture. Subwoofers typically sound best in room corners or near the left- or right-front speakers.
The front three–left, center, and right–speakers usually sound best when positioned with their tweeters elevated to the same height as a seated listener’s ears. In any case, try to keep the center speaker near the same height as the left and right speakers.
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Speaker Buying Guide part 3 2007-10-02 05:50:18 AV RECEIVERS
Audio/video receivers differ quite a bit from old stereo receivers, as almost all receivers offer 7.1 channels along with video switching. One of the biggest differentiating features on receivers these days are HDMI capabilities, and you’ll need to read the fine print to figure out exactly what the receiver can and cannot do.
Entry level (under $300)
Upside: Nowadays, entry-level receivers have just about everything anybody needs for basic home theater.
Downside: Lightweight build quality; inflated power ratings; lacks more advanced functionality, like HDMI upconversion; poorly designed remotes.
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Speaker Buying Guide part 2 2007-10-01 05:21:43 HOME THEATER IN A BOX (HTIB)
Most HTIBs combine a 5.1-speaker package with an AV receiver that has an integrated DVD player, which these days is usually capable of upscaling DVDs via an HDMI output. The only missing piece is a TV. HTIB prices range from less than $300 to in excess of $3,000.
Cheap thrills
Upside: Affordable; compact; comparatively easy to set up.
Downside: Won’t rock the house; spotty build quality; limited connectivity options.
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Speaker Buying Guide 2007-09-30 04:31:31 If you’re feeling surrounded by questions instead of ambient sound, you’ve come to the right place. We have suggestions on how to shop for everything surround, from receivers to speakers to full home-theater systems.
1. How much do I need to spend?
2. Home theater in a box (HTIB)
3. AV receivers
4. Where will I put all those speakers?
5. Speaker
packages
6. Separate speakers (more…)
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Printer Buying Guide part 5 2007-09-29 11:35:40 WHAT WILL IT REALLY COST ME?
The prices of personal printers look pretty enticing, especially those sub-$100 models. But keep in mind that the purchase price is just the start: the care and feeding of a printer can quickly exceed the original cost. Before pulling out your credit card, be sure to compare the costs of consumables.
Ink and toner
Inkjets are the least expensive printers available, with many models starting at less than $100. The catch? The consumables, such as replacement inks and specialty papers, can cost you an arm and a leg. Ink typically costs between $12 and $60 per cartridge and can last for 100 to 200 pages. More expensive printers, however, tend to be more economical to operate because they have higher-capacity ink tanks and separate ink tanks for each color so that you don’t need to replace everything when only one color runs dry. To save some money, you can purchase a compatible ink-refill kit from a separate company, though you may not get the same reliab Read more:Buying
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Printer Buying Guide part 4 2007-09-28 11:15:47 HOW DO I JUDGE PRINT QUALITY?
The cardinal rule of purchasing a printer is to print before you pay. Otherwise, there’s no surefire way to tell exactly how text and images will appear. Fortunately, many retail stores let you print demonstration pages to get a feel for the output quality. Here are some things to watch for, courtesy of CNET Labs.
Text
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Silent PC Power Supplies 2007-10-16 02:42:48 Just How Quiet Can They Be?
Introduction
Noise has been a growing issue for desktop computers for some time now. The primary source of noise within computer systems is fans used to cool down the internal components. Power supplies typically have had one or two fans inside of them to cool down the internal components used to convert the voltage from the wall outlet to the lower voltage power for the electronics. The problem now is that personal computers are being placed in environments such as the home theater that are meant to be quiet. Because of this, more and more power supplies are now being labeled as silent.
The Sound of Silence
One of the first things consumers should be aware of is that a part being marketed as silent may still produce noise. All sound levels are recorded in decibels (dBA).
The higher the decibels, the louder the noise. The human ear has a difficult time noticing certain sound frequencies and very low decibels. Because of this, many manufacturers will label de Read more:Silent
PC Power Supply Wattage 2007-10-15 02:34:24 Understanding PC PSU Wattage Ratings
Introduction
Pretty much every power supply on the market for a desktop PC computer is advertised solely on its wattage. Unfortunately, this is a simplistic view of a very complex issue. The power supply is there to convert the high voltage from the wall outlet into the lower voltages required to operate the computer circuitry. If this is not done properly, the irregular power signals that are sent to the components can cause damage and system instability. Because of this, it is important to make sure you buy a power supply that meets the needs of your computer system.
Peak vs. Maximum Wattage Output
This is the first real big gotcha when it comes to looking at power supply specifications. The peak output rating is the highest amount of power the unit can supply, but this is only for a very brief time.
Units cannot continuously supply power at this level and if it attempts to do so will cause damage. You want to find the maximum continuous wattage Read more:Supply
, Power Supply
ATX12V vs. ATX Power Supplies 2007-10-14 02:20:41 A Look at the Differences in Power Specifications
Introduction
Over the years, the base components of computer systems have dramatically changed. In order to standardize the design of the system, specifications standards were developed for desktop computers that define the various dimensions, layouts and electrical requirements so that parts could be easily changed between vendors and systems. Since all computer system require electrical power that is converted from high voltage wall outlets to the low voltage currents used by the components, power supplies have very clear specifications.
AT, ATX, ATX12V?
Desktop design specifications have been given a variety of names of the years. The original Advanced Technology or AT design was developed in the early PC years with the IBM compatible systems. As the power requirements and layouts changed, the industry developed a new definition called Advanced Technology Extended or ATX.
This specification has been used for many years. In fact it ha Read more:ATX Power
PC Power Supply buying guide 2007-10-13 02:05:21 Power supply units (PSUs) are often overlooked when building a computer system. A poor quality PSU can greatly reduce the life span of a good system or cause instability. A high quality PSU can also help reduce the noise or heat generated within a computer system. Whether you are buying one for a new computer or replacing a old unit, here are some tips for purchasing a PSU.
Avoid Power Supplies Under $30
Most power supplies that are priced below $30 generally do not meet the power requirements of the latest processors. To make matters worse, the components used in them are of inferior quality and more likely to fail over time. While they may power the computer system, inconsistencies in the power to the components will tend to cause instability and damage to the computer.
ATX12V Compliant
Developments in processors, the PCI Express bus and graphics cards have all increased the amount of power required to operate them. To help provide this extra power, the new ATX12V standard was deve Read more:Supply
, Power Supply
Hard Drive Buying Guide 2007-10-11 22:09:19 Overview
The Basics
Next to the motherboard and processor, the hard drive is the most important component of your computer. It acts as the basic storage medium for every piece of data your computer uses, including the operating system and all of your files and information. Needless to say, a fast and reliable hard disk is essential to any system, making your purchasing decisions all the more important.
How They Work
Hard disks contain a number of magnetized platters connected to a spindle. The spindle spins the platters at an incredible fast speed while a series of read/write heads scan over them both looking for and writing information.
A simple analogy might be to think of the hard disk as an advanced type of record player. The record, or platter, spins as a needle, or read/write head, passes over it looking for information. The major difference, of course, is that a hard disk is able to both read and write information.
The information is transferred across a ribbon or cable to a har Read more:Buying
, Guide
Tutorial Games 2007-10-10 20:55:16 This is my project Trainer :
~ b0cah_gemblung V1.5 Beta
Beberapa programs yang mungkin bisa berguna :
~ GR [ Games
Resistance ]
~ GTS [ Games Trainer Studio ]
~ Fsearch / Tsearch
~ Jamilah
Semoga bisa bermanfaat dan bisa digunakan dengan sebaik-baiknya.
Penggunaan yang berlebihan dan resiko ditanggung sendiri.
Read more:Tutorial
System Memory Buying Guide 2007-10-09 21:31:28 Why Do I Need Memory
?
Do you run multiple programs at the same time, or play massive games featuring hundreds or even thousands of individual character units? If your system slows down significantly under these circumstances with extremely dull responses and your hard drive LED is blinking at an extremely rapid rate, you may need to add extra memory to your computer.
The memory we refer to here is the main memory in a computer system, also known as RAM (Random Access Memory). It is essentially the computer’s workspace - the place where a computer temporarily stores data and programs. More memory allows you to run more programs simultaneously, and to store a greater amount of data for faster access by your computer (mostly the processor). Of course, memory performance is an important factor to consider as well, since faster memory allows more data to be transferred in a given time.
RAM cannot retain data when power is turned off. This volatility means that this type of memory is n Read more:Buying
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Computer Case Buying Guide 2007-10-09 02:36:17 Does the Computer
Case Matter?
As the most visible parts of the total PC system, the appearance of the monitor, keyboard and mouse, as well as the case (also called chassis or enclosure) can be of vital importance. The significance of the computer case is far more than just skin deep, however. As most computer parts are installed in the case, the case is far more than just a box. It plays a very significant role - not only does the computer case affect the type and number of components that can be installed, the layout and design of the case and its internals also determine the cooling performance of the entire system.
With a staggering number of computer cases on offer today, choosing one could be a relatively complicated task for any customer. Looks (the wow factor), functionality (and layout), expandability, cooling performance and price should all be taken into account for not only the performance, but also for the value you will be getting from your purchase. This guide will cover Read more:Buying
, Guide
CPU / Processor Buying Guide 2007-10-08 01:22:47 What is a CPU/Processor?
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is essentially the brain of the computer. It interprets and executes instructions and data contained in software programs. The more generic term “processor” is often used to refer to a CPU as well, and the more specific term “microprocessor”, meaning CPUs that are manufactured on integrated circuits, is also widely used nowadays. These three words mean exactly the same thing in this article, and elsewhere in most cases.
What are the basics I need to know when selecting my CPU?
There are many different ways of classifying processors, and the most common ones are:
By CPU brand name (Intel, AMD) and series - e.g. Core 2, Athlon 64 X2, etc.
By processor core: Prescott, Conroe and Windsor, etc.
CPU socket geometry, e.g. Socket 939/AM2, LGA 775, etc.
Major Manufacturers and Product Series
Intel and AMD are the two most prolific CPU manufacturers in the current PC market; they provide almost all the processor Read more:Buying
, Guide
Guide Series: iPods 2007-10-19 09:01:42 iPod 1st Generation
To get started, simply choose the part you want to install from the list to the buttom. The Guide
will walk you step by step through replacing your component. You’ll need the tools shown on the next page to access your part. Each Guide page shows up to three images with instructions. Each step has a bullet indicating the tool you’ll be using. (more…)
Installing a Desktop Power Supply 2007-10-18 02:54:23 1. Intro and Opening the Case
This guide was developed to instruct readers on the proper procedures for installing a power supply unit (PSU) into a desktop computer case. It includes step-by-step instructions with photographs for the physical installation of the PSU into a computer case.
IMPORTANT: Many name brand manufacturer PCs use specially designed power supplies that have been built specifically for their systems. As a result, it is generally not possible to buy a replacement power supply and install it into these systems. If your power supply is having problems, you will likely need to contact the manufacturer for repairs.
CAUTION: All power supplies contain various capacitors inside of them that retain power even after the power supply had all power turned off.
Never open up or insert any metal objects into the vents of the power supply as you can risk electrical shock.
To start with installing a power supply, it is necessary to open up the case. The method for opening the case Read more:Desktop
, Supply
PC Power Supply Efficiency 2007-10-17 02:47:42 How The Efficiency
Rating of A Power Supply
Can Save You Money
Introduction
Personal computers use a tremendous amount of power these days. As the processors and components get more powerful, so does the amount of energy they need to consume. Some desktop systems now can consume almost as much power as a microwave oven. The problem is that even though your PC may have a 500W power supply, the amount of power that it actually pulls from the wall could be much higher than this. This articles takes a look at how much energy a power supply uses and what consumers can do when making a purchase to try and reduce that consumption.
Power In Versus Power Out
The electrical power that is supplied to your house runs at fairly high voltages. When you plug your computer system into the wall for power, this voltage does not flow directly to the components within the computer.
The electrical circuits and chips run at much lower voltages than the current coming from the wall outlet. This is where the Read more:Power Supply
Installing Display 2007-10-25 12:13:28 Guide Series: iPods
Parts You’ll Need to Remove Display
For your information, the components you’ll be removing before you can access your part.
Read Installing Hard Drive (more…)
Installing Front Panel 2007-10-24 11:54:37 Guide Series: iPods
Parts You’ll Need to Remove FrontPanel
For your information, the components you’ll be removing before you can access your part.
Read Installing Rear Panel
Read Installing Battery (more…)
Installing Hard Drive Cable 2007-10-23 11:26:03 Guide Series: iPods
Parts You’ll Need to Remove Hard Drive Cable
For your information, the components you’ll be removing before you can access your part.
Read Installing Rear Panel
Read Installing Battery
Read Installing Hard Drive (more…)
Installing Hard Drive 2007-10-22 10:52:13 Guide Series: iPods
Parts You’ll Need to Remove Hard Drive
For your information, the components you’ll be removing before you can access your part.
Read Installing Rear Panel
Read Installing Battery
Lift the battery up from the adhesive holding it to the iPod.
Lay the battery next the the iPod (it is still connected to the logic board). (more…)
Installing Battery 2007-10-21 10:15:17 Guide Series: iPods
Parts You’ll Need to Remove Battery
For your information, the components you’ll be removing before you can access your part.
Read Installing Rear Panel
Lift the battery up from the adhesive holding it to the iPod.
Lay the battery next the the iPod (it is still connected to the logic board).
(more…)
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