All About Computers

VGA Manufactures

2010-05-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

VGA Cards - Graphics Card - Video Adapters

2TheMax	3Com
3DFX	3D Labs
Abit	Acorp
Albatron	ALI
Alliance Semiconductor	Analog Devices
Aopen	Apac
Appian Graphics	Artist Graphics
ASKA (Silver Star Technology)	AST
ASUS	ATI
Advance Logic Research (ALR)	Aztech Labs
Azza	Cirrus Logic
Creative Labs	Diamond Flower Inc (DFI)
Diamond Multimedia	Elitegroup Computer Systems
Elsa	FIC
Giga-Byte Technology	Hercules
Chaintech	Innovision
Intel	Jet-Way
Leadtek Research (Winfast)	MANLI
Matrox Graphics	MSI Micro-Star
NeoMagic	nVIDIA
Octek	PC Chips
Pine Group	S3
Sapphire	SiS Corporation
Soltek	Trident Microsystems
Tseng Labs	TYAN
VIA Technologies

Install or remove a sound card

2010-05-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

Install or remove a sound card

Most new desktop computers come with a built-in sound card that you can replace. If your computer doesn't have a sound card installed or you want to upgrade the sound playback or recording capabilities of your computer, you can install a sound card.

Notes

The instructions here apply to desktop computers. Most laptops have built-in sound processing chips (also called sound processors) but not internal sound cards. You can upgrade the sound on a laptop by plugging an external audio device into a USB port or external card slot, but this is rarely done.
Sound processors can also be built into desktop computers. You can't remove them, but to upgrade your sound, you can usually install an internal sound card and turn off the sound processor.

Before installing a sound card, check the information that came with it. The guidelines shown here are general, and the sound card documentation might contain important information specific to installing that card. Also, be sure to check the information that came with your computer to see if opening your computer affects the computer's warranty coverage.

Before installing a sound card, you'll need the following:

The sound card you want to install
A Phillips screwdriver to open your computer, if needed
An empty PCI slot inside your computer, unless you plan to replace an existing sound card (in which case you can put the new card into that slot)

If your sound card came with a CD, DVD, or other removable media, it might contain a driver for your sound card. Hold on to that until Windows has finished looking for and installing a driver. Windows does this automatically after you install the sound card in your computer and turn the computer back on. If Windows can't find a good driver for your sound card, then try installing the driver that came with the sound card. Software from the manufacturer might also include other programs for your sound card.

Most sound cards have at least one line-out jack to connect speakers and a line-in jack to connect an audio input device.

sound card

2010-05-21T03:58:00.000-07:00

Sound Card

A sound card (also known as an audio card) is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. Typical uses of sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music composition, editing video or audio, presentation, education, and entertainment (games). Many computers have sound capabilities built in, while others require additional expansion cards to provide for audio capability.

General characteristics

Sound cards usually feature a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which converts recorded or generated digital data into an analog format. The output signal is connected to an amplifier, headphones, or external device using standard interconnects, such as a TRS connector or an RCA connector. If the number and size of connectors is too large for the space on the backplate the connectors will be off-board, typically using a breakout box, or an auxiliary backplate. More advanced cards usually include more than one sound chip to provide for higher data rates and multiple simultaneous functionality, eg between digital sound production and synthesized sounds (usually for real-time generation of music and sound effects using minimal data and CPU time).

Digital sound reproduction is usually done with multi-channel DACs, which are capable of multiple digital samples simultaneously at different pitches and volumes, or optionally applying real-time effects like filtering or distortion. Multi-channel digital sound playback can also be used for music synthesis when used with a compliance, and even multiple-channel emulation. This approach has become common as manufacturers seek to simplify the design and the cost of sound cards.

Most sound cards have a line in connector for signal from a cassette tape recorder or similar sound source. The sound card digitizes this signal and stores it (under control of appropriate matching computer software) on the computer's hard disk for storage, editing, or further processing. Another common external connector is the microphone connector, for use by a microphone or other low level input device. Input through a microphone jack can then be used by speech recognition software or for Voice over IP applications.

Color codes

Connectors on the sound cards are colour coded as per the PC System Design Guide. They will also have symbols with arrows, holes and soundwaves that are associated with each jack position, the meaning of each is given below:

	Function	Connector	symbol
Pink	Analog microphone audio input.	3.5 mm TRS	A microphone
Light blue	Analog line level audio input.	3.5 mm TRS	An arrow going into a circle
Lime green	Analog line level audio output for the main stereo signal (front speakers or headphones).	3.5 mm TRS	Arrow going out one side of a circle into a wave
Brown/Dark	Analog line level audio output for a special panning,'Right-to-left speaker'.	3.5 mm TRS
Black	Analog line level audio output for surround speakers, typically rear stereo.	3.5 mm TRS
Orange	Analog line level audio output for center channel speaker and subwoofer	3.5 mm TRS
Gold/Grey	Game port / MIDI	15 pin D	Arrow going out both sides into waves

History of sound cards for the IBM PC architecture

Sound cards for computers compatible with the IBM PC were very uncommon until 1988, which left the single internal PC speaker as the only way early PC software could produce sound and music. The speaker hardware was typically limited to square waves, which fit the common nickname of "beeper". The resulting sound was generally described as "beeps and boops". Several companies, most notably Access Software, developed techniques for digital sound reproduction over the PC speaker; the resulting audio, while baldly functional, suffered from distorted output and low volume, and usually required all other processing to be stopped while sounds were played. Other home computer models of the 1980s included hardware support for digital sound playback, or music synthesis (or both), leaving the IBM PC at a disadvantage to them when it came to multimedia applications such as music composition or gaming.

It is important to note that the initial design and marketing focuses of sound cards for the IBM PC platform were not based on gaming, but rather on specific audio applications such as music composition (AdLib Personal Music System, Creative Music System, IBM Music Feature Card) or on speech synthesis (Digispeech DS201, Covox Speech Thing, Street Electronics Echo). Not until Sierra and other game companies became involved in 1988 was there a switch toward gaming.

How does it work?

When you listen to the voice of the hardware, voice, digital data waveforms, including WAV and MP3 transfer to the sound card. Digital data processing of digital signal processing (DSP) digital-analog converter (DAC) of the envelope of the digital signal into analogue signal. This is an analog signal, then amplified through a loudspeaker.

At the same time, when you record a sound through a microphone, an analog sound through DSP processing and analog-digital converter (ADC). Analog signals, and then converted into digital signals. Wave signal, and then save in a table format the disk or compressed into other formats, like MP3 players.

Innovative Sound Blaster X – Fi Fatality Titanium Champion

This new card is suitable for the game. Absolute give a PC gaming audio experience. You can hear the great sound effects and accurate 3D positional audio. To provide gaming performance is very good, which is to provide accelerated audio sound card. Dialogue sounds clear, to provide you with a clear voice communication.

AMD Processors for Desktop PCs

2010-05-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

AMD Processors

AMD processors ignite the next generation of solutions for desktops. Whether it’s playing games, cloud computing or editing home videos, enjoy a better experience with AMD multi-core processors.

AMD Phenom™ II Processors

Unbeatable multi-core value with AMD Phenom™ II processors. They deliver The Ultimate Visual Experience™ for high definition entertainment, advanced multitasking performance, and power-saving innovations for smaller, cooler machines that are energy efficient.

Features & Benefits

Smoother faster experience, even when running complex software application with native Multi-Core Technology
Scaled performance to conserve PC power with HyperTransport® 3.0 Technology
Hear your music, not your PC with AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
Prevent the spread of certain viruses and strengthen your network integrity with Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP)*

AMD Phenom™ Processors

Learn how the AMD Phenom™ X3 and AMD Phenom™ X4 processors apply to home uses.

Built from the ground up for true quad- and triple core performance, AMD Phenom™ processors speed through advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, advanced visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.

Features & Benefits

Smoother faster experience, even when running complex software application with native Multi-Core Technology
Scaled performance to conserve PC power with HyperTransport® 3.0 Technology
Hear your music, not your PC with AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
Prevent the spread of certain viruses and strengthen your network integrity with Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP)*

AMD Athlon™ II Processors

Enhance your digital life with the multi-core performance and energy efficiency of AMD Athlon II processor-based desktop systems.

Do more in less time with amazing multi-core performance at a great price

Do more of the things you want to in less time and enhance your digital life with the multi-core performance and energy efficiency of AMD Athlon™ II processor-based desktop systems. Combined with superior ATI Radeon™ HD graphics technology, systems based on the AMD Athlon™ II processor deliver a vivid visual experience, superior multi-tasking, and exceptional digital media performance with next-generation energy efficiency.

Features & Benefits

Better Multi-Tasking Means Increased Office Productivity
Setting the Pace in Digital Media
Get more Power using less Power
AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
AMD64 Technology
Enhanced Virus Protection*
AMD Athlon Processor Architecture Performance
HyperTransport™ Technology
Ready for the 64-bit future
Purchase with Confidence

AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual-Core Processors for Desktop

See how the AMD Athlon X2 processor increases desktop performance.

Do more in less time with true multi-tasking

Increase your performance by up to 80% with the AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core processor. Work or play with multiple programs without any stalling or waiting. Dual-core technology is like having two processors, and two working together is better and faster than one working alone.

Features & Benefits

Better Multi-Tasking Means Increased Office Productivity
Setting the Pace in Digital Media
Get more Power using less Power
AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
AMD64 Technology
Enhanced Virus Protection*
AMD Athlon Processor Architecture Performance
HyperTransport™ Technology
Ready for the 64-bit future
Purchase with Confidence

AMD Athlon™ Processor for Desktop

Learn about the perfomance of the AMD Athlon™ processor in a desktop computer.

Simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing

Get powerful performance for your unique digital experience. It's not just about email, Web browsing and word processing anymore. The AMD Athlon™ processor gives you leading performance to go wherever your digital world takes you.

Features & Benefits

Enhanced Virus Protection* with Windows® XP Service Pack 2
Industry-leading performance for today's software
Ready for the 64-bit future
Protect investments with a technically superior PC processor
Purchase with confidence

AMD Sempron™ Processor for Desktop

Find information about the AMD Sempron™ Processor for desktop computers.

Affordable performance for everyday computing

Get to fun, faster, with a system that boots and loads applications quickly and easily. Enjoy reliable, responsive performance on thousands of software applications—including those that let you communicate with family and friends.

Features & Benefits

Affordable - Performance
Full-Featured to Improve your Computing Experience
AMD64 Technology
HyperTransport™ Technology
Enjoy full compatibility with the tools you use daily
Get more value from your PC
Reliability from an Industry Leader

Computer Motherboard

2010-05-11T00:51:00.000-07:00

Motherboard

A motherboard is also known as a main board, system board and logic board. A common abbreviation is ‘mobo'. They can be found in a variety of electrical devices, ranging from a TV to a computer.

Generally, they will be referred to as a motherboard or a main board when associated with a complex device such as a computer, which is what we shall look at. Put simply, it is the central circuit board of your computer.

All other components and peripherals plug into it, and the job of the motherboard is to relay information between them all. Despite the fact that a better motherboard will not add to the speed of your PC, it is none-the-less important to have one that is both stable and reliable, as its role is vital.

A motherboard houses the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), which is the simple software run by a computer when initially turned on. Other components attach directly to it, such as the memory, CPU (Central Processing Unit), graphics card, sound card, hard-drive, disk drives, along with various external ports and peripherals.

There are a lot of motherboards on the market to choose from. The big question is how do you go about choosing which one is right for you? Different motherboards support different components, and so it is vital you make a number of decisions concerning general system specifications before you can pick the right motherboard.

A motherboard can come in many configurations to fit different needs and budgets. At its most basic, it comes with several interfaces for necessary components and a BIOS chip set to control setup of the motherboard. Many computer enthusiasts favor one type of BIOS over another and will choose a motherboard partially based on the BIOS manufacturer.

An equally important feature of the motherboard is the type of CPU it will support. Some motherboards support AMD CPUs, while others support Intel processors. If you purchase your case before other components, the first factor to think about motherboard is the size, or form factor. A form factor is a standardized motherboard size.

If you think about fitting a motherboard in a case, there are numbers of mounting holes, slot locations and PSU connectors. The most popular motherboard form factor today is ATX, which evolved from it's predecessor, the Baby AT, a smaller version of the AT (Advanced Technology) form factor. Generally todays computers have ATX form factor motherboard.

Chipsets are a crucial part of a motherboard - they control the system and its’ capabilities. Furthermore, a chipset supports the facilities offered by the processor. A chipset is part of the motherboard, and cannot be upgraded without upgrading the whole board. It is therefore important to make sure you choose the right one for you in the first place.

There are a few main producers of chipsets, which are AMD, Intel, NVidia and Via: The latter two make chipsets for both AMD and Intel processors; AMD and Intel only make chipsets compatible with their own processors.

Another important consideration is the amount and type of RAM the motherboard will support. It is always best to buy a board that supports more RAM than currently needed. If new technology for RAM chips are available, getting a board that supports the newer chips will help future-proof the investment.

The number of PCI slots varies from motherboard to motherboard, as do other interfaces like the number of SATA ports, different RAID abilities, and USB and Firewire ports. As mentioned earlier, sound and video capability might be built-in, although enthusiasts generally prefer to disable internal video, sound and add superior third party cards.

Computer display is an important issue as there are many kinds of graphics cards available these days. Graphics cards vary from PCI or AGP. These days, PCI is ruling the market but one will find that AGP graphics cards are still in use.

One of the best things you can do when looking for a motherboard is to read lots of reviews. They will give you good information about how the board performs and what it is compatible with. Never make a judgement on one review alone and wherever possible ask for recommendations from other people.

Unless you have limitless resources, price is always a consideration when buying computer component. A motherboard usually takes up a fairly large part of any PC budget, so it requires careful consideration. It is worth bearing in mind that cheaper boards sometimes support only more expensive components. If this is the case, work out the total cost of buying the board and components as sometimes it may be worth spending a little more on a more expensive board. A cheap motherboard may be unreliable and more trouble than it is worth. A motherboard is one of those components where it pays to spend a little extra.

Hardware Connection

To function, hardware requires physical connections that allow components to communicate and interact. A bus provides a common interconnected system composed of a group of wires or circuitry that coordinates and moves information between the internal parts of a computer.

Computer Bus

A computer bus consists of two channels, one that the CPU uses to locate data, called the address bus, and another to send the data to that address, called the data bus. A bus is characterized by two features: how much information it can manipulate at one time, called the bus width, and how quickly it can transfer these data.

Serial Connection

A serial connection is a wire or set of wires used to transfer information from the CPU to an external device such as a mouse, keyboard, modem, scanner, and some types of printers. This type of connection transfers only one piece of data at a time, and is therefore slow. The advantage to using a serial connection is that it provides effective connections over long distances.

Parallel Connection

A parallel connection uses multiple sets of wires to transfer blocks of information simultaneously. Most scanners and printers use this type of connection. A parallel connection is much faster than a serial connection, but it is limited to distances of less than 3 m (10 ft) between the CPU and the external device.

Computer Hardwares

2010-05-11T00:44:00.000-07:00

What are Computer Hardwares?

Hardware (computer) components, equipments involved in the function of a computer. Computer hardware consists of the components that can be physically handled. The function of these components is typically divided into three main categories: input, output, and storage.

Components in these categories connect to microprocessors, specifically, the computer's central processing unit (CPU), the electronic circuitry that provides the computational ability and control of the computer, via wires or circuitry called a bus.

Software, on the other hand, is the set of instructions a computer uses to manipulate data, such as a word-processing program or a video game. These programs are usually stored and transferred via the computer's hardware to and from the CPU.

Software also governs how the hardware is utilized; for example, how information is retrieved from a storage device. The interaction between the input and output hardware is controlled by software called the Basic Input Output System software (BIOS).

Although microprocessors are still technically considered to be hardware, portions of their function are also associated with computer software. Since microprocessors have both hardware and software aspects they are therefore often referred to as firmware.

There!

That's it. That's basic components of computer hardwares. You can review deeper dreakdowns for each categories by clicking on categories and subcategories on your right hand side. We subdivided each categories as follows.

Input Devices
Output Devices
Storage Devices
Hardware Connections

Computer Input Devices

Input devices consists of external devices - that is, devices outside of the computer's CPU - that provide information and instructions to the computer.

Light pen

A light pen is a stylus with a light sensitive tip that is used to draw directly on a computer's video screen or to select information on the screen by pressing a clip in the light pen or by pressing the light pen against the surface of the screen. The pen contains light sensors that identify which portion of the screen it is passed over.

Mouse

A mouse is a pointing device designed to be gripped by one hand. It has a detection device (usually a ball) on the bottom that enables the user to control the motion of an on-screen pointer, or cursor, by moving the mouse on a flat surface. As the device moves across the surface, the cursor moves across the screen. To select items or choose commands on the screen, the user presses a button on the mouse.

Joystick

A joystick is a pointing device composed of a lever that moves in multiple directions to navigate a cursor or other graphical object on a computer screen.

Keyboard

A keyboard is a typewriter-like device that allows the user to type in text and commands to the computer. Some keyboards have special function keys or integrated pointing devices, such as a trackball or touch-sensitive regions that let the user's finger motions move an on-screen cursor.

Optical Scanner

An optical scanner uses light-sensing equipment to convert images such as a picture or text into electronic signals that can be manipulated by a computer. For example, a photograph can be scanned into a computer and then included in a text document created on that computer.

The two most common scanner types are the flatbed scanner, which is similar to an office photocopier, and the handheld scanner, which is passed manually across the image to be processed.

Microphone

A microphone is a device for converting sound into signals that can then be stored, manipulated, and played back by the computer.

voice recognition

A voice recognition module is a device that converts spoken words into information that the computer can recognize and process.

Modem

A modem, which stands for modulator-demodulator, is a device that connects a computer to a telephone line or cable television network and allows information to be transmitted to or received from another computer. Each computer that sends or receives information must be connected to a modem. The digital signal sent from one computer is converted by the modem into an analog signal, which is then transmitted by telephone lines or television cables to the receiving modem, which converts the signal back into a digital signal that the receiving computer can understand.

There are few different types of Modems including...

Analog: 56K (52K top speed) using telephone line.

DSL/ADSL: Top speed can reach as high as 5 Mb in residential using telephone line.

Cable: Top speed about 8 Mb using Cable.

FiberOptic: Can reach 30Mbps depend on your available provider.

Modem is input device as well as output device. So, we will place detaied articles about modems under "Networking" category.

Output Device

Output hardware consists of external devices that transfer information from the computer's CPU to the computer user. A video display, or screen, converts information generated by the computer into visual information.

Display

Displays commonly take one of two forms: a video screen with a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a video screen with a liquid crystal display (LCD).

CRT

A CRT-based screen, or monitor, looks similar to a television set. Information from the CPU is displayed using a beam of electrons that scans a phosphorescent surface that emits light and creates images.

Flat Panel or LCD

An LCD-based screen displays visual information on a flatter and smaller screen than a CRT-based video monitor. LCDs are frequently used in laptop computers.

Printers

Printers take text and image from a computer and print them on paper. Dot-matrix printers use tiny wires to impact upon an inked ribbon to form characters. Laser printers employ beams of light to draw images on a drum that then picks up fine black particles called toner. The toner is fused to a page to produce an image. Inkjet printers fire droplets of ink onto a page to form characters and pictures.

Speakers

Ahh... Gamers can not ignore this category. However, we'll talk about that in later time.

Storage Devices

Storage hardware provides permanent storage of information and programs for retrieval by the computer. The two main types of storage devices are disk drives and memory.

There are several types of disk drives: hard, floppy, magneto-optical, and compact.

Hard disk drive

Hard disk drives store information in magnetic particles embedded in a disk. Usually a permanent part of the computer, hard disk drives can store large amounts of information and retrieve that information very quickly.

Floppy disk drive

Floppy disk drives also store information in magnetic particles embedded in removable disks that may be floppy or rigid. Floppy disks store less information than a hard disk drive and retrieve the information at a much slower rate.

Magneto-optical disc drive

Magneto-optical disc drives store information on removable discs that are sensitive to both laser light and magnetic fields. They can typically store as much information as hard disks, but they have slightly slower retrieval speeds.

Compact disc drive

Compact disc drives store information on pits burned into the surface of a disc of reflective material. CD-ROMs can store about as much information as a hard drive but have a slower rate of information retrieval. A digital video disc (DVD) looks and works like a CD-ROM but can store more than 7 times as much information.

Memory

Memory refers to the computer chips that store information for quick retrieval by the CPU. Random access memory RAM is used to store the information and instructions that operate the computer's programs.

Typically, programs are transferred from storage on a disk drive to RAM. RAM is also known as volatile memory because the information within the computer chips is lost when power to the computer is turned off.

Read-only memory (ROM) contains critical information and software that must be permanently available for computer operation, such as the operating system that directs the computer's actions from start up to shut down. ROM is called nonvolatile memory because the memory chips do not lose their information when power to the computer is turned off.

Some devices serve more than one purpose. For example, floppy disks may also be used as input devices if they contain information to be used and processed by the computer user. In addition, they can be used as output devices if the user wants to store the results of computations on them.

Memory - RAM

RAM is Random Access Memory. It is the part of the computer that processes information. When a program is started it is loaded into RAM to be run.

Inside your computer is one or more slots (usually black) that contain memory chips. Most computers ship with only one filled. To add RAM to the computer you need to find out what kind of RAM (Random Access Memory) your computer takes. The manual that came with your computer's motherboard should have details on what kind of RAM you will need, how much RAM each slot can take and how many slots your computer has. When you receive the upgrade chips they simply snap into the slots on the motherboard.

In Windows, click your START button (bottom left) and click Settings, then Control Panel (In XP, click START then Control Panel). Then click the System icon and look at the info listed on the General tab. The amount of RAM in your system will be listed there in megabytes (MB).

Once the RAM is installed your Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP system will automatically detect the new memory and start using it.

Adding RAM is the easiest, most cost effective way to boost your computer’s performance.

There are many types of RAM: EDO, FPM, SDRAM SODIMM, RAMBUS and more. Your manual or manufacturer should be able to explain what kind of RAM you have and need. If you have a brand name computer a quick way to figure out what RAM you need is to see Crucial's Memory Advisor. Pick your computer brand from the list below and then the model and model number. It will report what type of RAM you need to buy and how much it will cost.

Every computer has a different maximum amount of RAM you can install. Each motherboard (the big circuit board in your computer) has different a maximum. The are a couple of ways you can figure out how much RAM your motherboard can hold. If you still have a manual that came with your computer, there should be information found in there that shows how many RAM slots are on your motherboard, how much memory each slot can take and what the maximum amout of RAM your system can use.

Modem

A modem is a device that converts digital signals from a computer's serial port to the analog signals required for transmission over traditional telephone lines, and vice versa. Modem stands for modulator/demodulator.

Conversion is necessary because telephone lines were initially designed to handle the analog nature of the human voice, not data. Modems provide remote access to machines in the field to eliminate unnecessary site visits and provide fast access to information in the machine.

The speed of a modem is measured by the rate at which it sends and receives data. This is expressed as bits per second (bps), thousands of bits per second (Kbps) and/or Megabits per second (Mbps). The term baud is approximately equivalent to bps.

Some modems have a V number on them to express their speed and features. V32bis modems run up to 14.4 kbps, V34 modems up to 28.8 kbps, and V34plus modems up to 33.6 kbps. The most recently-adopted standard is the V.90 standard for 56 kbps modems.

Telephone lines are the cheapest way of connecting to the Net, allowing connection speeds up to about 56 kbps. No matter what your modem speed is, actual connection speed may be less than the modem's rated speed depending on the quality of the line.

Connection speed may also vary from connection to connection. You can run your Internet connection from your existing telephone line but if you do, be aware that when you are online you cannot receive or make telephone calls using that line.

You might want to get a separate line for the Internet connection or, if you have a fax line already and you don't use it a lot, you can probably utilise this connection. If you want faster connections to allow you to spend less time online, or to make your time online more interesting and more immediately interactive, you can get connected through ISDN, DSL lines or cables.

Types of RAM: How to Identify and their Specifications

2010-05-03T22:42:00.000-07:00

How to Identify and their Specifications

There are many different types of RAM which have appeared over the years and it is often difficult knowing the difference between them both performance wise and visually identifying them. This article tells a little about each RAM type, what it looks like and how it performs.

FPM RAM

FPM RAM, which stands for Ã¢â‚¬Å“Fast Page Mode RAMÃ¢â‚¬Â is a type of Dynamic RAM (DRAM). The term Ã¢â‚¬Å“Fast Page ModeÃ¢â‚¬Â comes from the capability of memory being able to access data that is on the same page and can be done with less latency. Most 486 and Pentium based systems from 1995 and earlier use FPM Memory.

EDO RAM

EDO RAM, which stands for Ã¢â‚¬Å“Extended Data Out RAMÃ¢â‚¬Â came out in 1995 as a new type of memory available for Pentium based systems. EDO is a modified form of FPM RAM which is commonly referred to as Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hyper Page ModeÃ¢â‚¬Â. Extended Data Out refers to fact that the data output drivers on the memory module are not switched off when the memory controller removes the column address to begin the next cycle, unlike FPM RAM. Most early Penitum based systems use EDO.

SDRAM

SDRAM , which is short for Synchronous DRAM is a type of DRAM that runs in synchronization with the memory bus. Beginning in 1996 most Intel based chipsets began to support SDRAM which made it a popular choice for new systems in 2001.

SDRAM is capable of running at 133MHz which is about three times faster than FPM RAM and twice as fast as EDO RAM. Most Pentium or Celeron systems purchased in 1999 have SDRAM.

DDR RAM

DDR RAM, which stands for Ã¢â‚¬Å“Double Data RateÃ¢â‚¬Â which is a type of SDRAM and appeared first on the market around 2001 but didn’t catch on until about 2001 when the mainstream motherboards started supporting it. The difference between SDRAM and DDR RAM is that instead of doubling the clock rate it transfers data twice per clock cycle which effectively doubles the data rate. DDRRAM has become mainstream in the graphics card market and has become the memory standard.

DDR2 RAM

DDR2 RAM, which stands for Ã¢â‚¬Å“Double Data Rate 2Ã¢â‚¬Â is a newer version of DDR which is twice as fast as the original DDR RAM. DDR2RAM came out in mid 2003 and the first chipsets that supported DDR2 came out in mid 2004. DDR2 still is double data rate just like the original DDR however DDR2-RAM has modified signaling which enables higher speeds to be achieved with more immunity to signal noise and cross-talk between signals.

RAMBUS (RIMM) RAM

RAMBUS RDRAM is a type of ram of its own, it came out in 1999 and was developed from traditional DRAM but its architecture is totally new. The RAMBUS design gives smarter access to the ram meaning that units can prefetch data and free some CPU work. The idea behind RAMBUS RAM is to get small packets of data from the RAM, but at very high clock speeds. For example, SD RAM can get 64bit of information at 100MHz where RAMBUS RAM would get 16bits of data at 800MHz. RIMM ram was generally unsuccessful as Intel had a lot of problems with the RAM timing or signal noise. RD RAM did make an appearance in the Sony Playstation 2 and the Nintendo 64 game consoles.

Memory Module and Bus Standards/Bandwith

Module Standard	Module Format	Chip Type	Clock Speed (MHz)	Cycles per Clock	Bus Speed (MT/s)	Bus Width (Bytes)	Transfer Rate (MBps)
FPM	SIMM	60ns	22	1	22	8	177
EDO	SIMM	60ns	33	1	33	8	266
PC66	SDR DIMM	10ns	66	1	66	8	533
PC100	SDR DIMM	8ns	100	1	100	8	800
PC133	SDR DIMM	7/7.5ns	133	1	133	8	1,066
PC1600	DDR DIMM	DDR200	100	2	200	8	1,600
PC2100	DDR DIMM	DDR266	133	2	266	8	2,133
PC2400	DDR DIMM	DDR300	150	2	300	8	2,400
PC2700	DDR DIMM	DDR333	166	2	333	8	2,667
PC3000	DDR DIMM	DDR366	183	2	366	8	2,933
PC3200	DDR DIMM	DDR400	200	2	400	8	3,200
PC3500	DDR DIMM	DDR433	216	2	433	8	3,466
PC3700	DDR DIMM	DDR466	233	2	466	8	3,733
PC4000	DDR DIMM	DDR500	250	2	500	8	4,000
PC4200	DDR DIMM	DDR533	266	2	533	8	4,266
PC2-3200	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-400	200	2	400	8	3,200
PC2-4200	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-533	266	2	533	8	4,266
PC2-5300	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-667	333	2	667	8	5,333
PC2-6000	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-750	375	2	750	8	6,000
PC2-6400	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-800	400	2	800	8	6,400
PC2-7200	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-900	450	2	900	8	7,200
PC2-8000	DDR2 DIMM	DDR2-1000	500	2	1000	8	8,000
RIMM1200	RIMM-16	PC600	300	2	600	2	1,200
RIMM1400	RIMM-16	PC700	350	2	700	2	1,400
RIMM1600	RIMM-16	PC800	400	2	800	2	1,600
RIMM2100	RIMM-16	PC1066	533	2	1066	2	2,133
RIMM2400	RIMM-16	PC1200	600	2	1200	2	2,400
RIMM3200	RIMM-32	PC800	400	2	800	4	3,200
RIMM4200	RIMM-32	PC1066	533	2	1066	4	4,266
RIMM4800	RIMM-32	PC1200	600	2	1200	4	4,800

How to check whether your computer machine and operating system supports 32 bit or 64 bit?

2010-05-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

How do you know if your computer is 64 bit ready?

If you plan to upgrade your operating system from Windows XP 32 bit to Windows 7 64 bit, here are some ways to check whether your processor supports it. First, download, install and run this software (CPUZ) and run Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

CPUZ is a small utility which gives all information about your CPU (Processor), Cache, Mainboard, Memory, SPD etc. Under Instructions from CPU tab, if you see EM64T (if its Intel) or AMD64 (if its AMD) then your processor is 64-bit capable.

Then, before you go rushing to the store to grab Windows 7 64 bit, you might wanna check your RAM (memory) that you have installed to your motherboard. To fully experience the speed, you need to have 4 GB of RAM or more. 32 bit Operating System could not detect more than 3 GB of RAM (from what I read). If you hvae more than 4 GB, then you could give your computer a fresh Windows 7 Ultimate installation from a DVD.

With the CPU-Z, you can use it to check your motherboard brand (under MainBoard Tab).

Then go to your manufacturer website (mine is Intel) and check what the mainboard can support. Visit this link to view all Intel® Desktop Boards and select the one that it is shown in CPU-Z. If you want to ugprade your RAM (increase more RAM) check your motherboard specification. For example, some mainboard/motherboard can only support DDR2 800/667 but not DDR3.

How do you know if your computer is running OS 32/64 bit?

To check whether your operating system is running on a 32 bit or 64 bit:

Go to Start > Run > Type: “msinfo32.exe” > Hit enter

Then Under System Summary > Look for “System Type” > Mine is x86-based PC

This means my operating system is a 32 bit

Latest AMD Processor Price in India

2010-04-29T22:54:00.000-07:00

AMD CPU price list

AMD SEMPRON LE 1250 (2.2GHZ/800MHZ/256KB L2) CPU –Rs.1590

AMD Athlon 64bit X2 dual core processor price list in India

AMD ATHLON DUAL CORE X2 5200 Processor(2.7GHZ/1000MHZ/1MB L2) –Rs.2940
AMD ATHLON DUAL CORE X2 5400 Processor(2.8GHZ/1000MHZ/1MB L2 –Rs.3550
AMD ATHLON DUAL CORE X2 7750 Processor(2.7GHZ/3600MHZ/2MB L2)–Rs.3150
AMD ATHLON DUAL CORE X2 7850 Processor(2.8GHZ) –Rs.3900

AMD Phenom 64bit X3 Triple core processor price list in India

AMD PHENOM TRI CORE 8650 X3 AM2+ Processor –Rs.4370

AMD Phenom 64bit X4 Quad core processor price list in India

AMD PHENOM QUAD CORE 9650 X4 AM2+ Processor–Rs.6825
AMD PHENOM QUAD CORE 9950 X4 AM2+ Processor–Rs.8800

AMD PHENOM II CPU

AMD PHENOM II 720 X3 AM3/2.8GHZ Processor–Rs.8000
AMD PHENOM II 810 X4 AM3/2.6GHZ Processor–Rs.9800
AMD PHENOM II 920 X4 AM2+/2.8GHZ Processor–Rs.10500
AMD PHENOM II 940 X4 AM2+/3.0GHZ Processor–Rs.11200
AMD PHENOM II 955 X4 AM3/3.2GHZ Processor–Rs.14000

AMD’s Upcoming Processors for Desktop Computers

AMD Athlon X2 Dual-core “Brisbane” (BH-G2-AM2)

AMD Athlon X2 5050e at 2.6GHz,45w
AMD Athlon X2 3250e (1.5GHz,22 w)

AMD Phenom X3 triple-core “Toliman” (DR-B3-AM2+)

Phenom X3 8850 at 2.5GHz,95w
Phenom X3 8850 Unlocked (2.5GHz,95w)

AMD Athlon Single-core “Lima” Processor (BH-G2-AM2) for low-power devices at 1.6GHz ,draws just 15W

AMD Athlon 2650e (1.66GHz,15w)

AMD Phenom TBD Quad-core “Deneb” Processor (RB-C2-AM2+)

Phenom X4 TBD (3GHz,125w)
Phenom X4 TBD (2.8GHz,125w)

The AMD “ultra-value client” UVC solutions(Intel’s Atom competitor ?)

External Hard Disk Price List

2010-04-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

External Hard Disk Price in India – All Prices are in Indian Rupee

Segate External Hard disk Prices

Seagate FreeAgent 500GB USB External Hard Disk – 3550/-
Seagate FreeAgent 750GB USB External Hard Disk – 4400/-
Seagate FreeAgent 1TeraByte USB External Hard Disk – 5250/-
Seagate FreeAgent 1.5 TeraByte USB External Hard Disk – 8900/-

Western Digital External Hard disk Prices

Western Digital My Book Essential 250 GB USB External Hard Disk – 3250/-
Western Digital My Book Essential 320 GB USB External Hard Disk – 3500/-
Western Digital My Book Essential 500 GB USB External Hard Disk – 5400/-

Western Digital My Book Home Series External Hard Disk Prices

Western Digital My Book 640 GB USB – 4000/-
Western Digital My Book 1 Terabyte USB – 5350/-

Hard Disk Price List

2010-04-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

Latest Hard Disk Prices in India

2 TeraByte (TB) Hard Disk price in India

2 TeraByte Western Digital (WD) Hard Disk Price – 11,900/-

1.5 TeraByte (TB) Hard Disk price in India

1.5 TeraByte Segate Hard Disk Price – 6,900/-

1 TeraByte (TB) Hard Disk price in India

1 TeraByte Segate Hard Disk Price – 4500/-
1 TeraByte Sata Western Digital Hard Disk – 4500/-

750GB Hard Disk Prices

750GB Sata Seagate Hard Disk -4100/-
750GB Sata Western Digital Hard Disk – 4050/-

640GB Hard Disk Prices

640GB Sata Western Digital Hard Disk (16MB buffer) – 3350/-
640GB Sata Western Digital Hard Disk (32Mb Buffer) – 3550/-

500GB Hard Disk Price

500GB Sata Seagate Hard Disk – 2600/-
500GB Sata Hitachi Hard Disk – 2550/-
500GB Sata Western Digital Hard Disk – 2650/-

320GB Hard Disk Price

320 GB Sata Seagate Hard Disk – 2200/-
320 GB Sata Western Digital Hard Disk – 2200/-
320 GB Sata Hitachi Hard Disk – 2150/-

250GB Hard Disk Price

250 GB Sata Hitachi Hard Disk – 2050/-
250 GB Sata Seagate Hard Disk – 2000/-
250 GB Sata Western Digital Hard Disk – 2000/-

160GB Hard Disk Prices

160 GB Sata Seagate Hard Disk – 1850/-
160 GB Sata Hitachi Hard Disk – 1900/-
160 GB Sata Western Digital Hard Disk – 1800/-

ALL LATEST DDR AND DDR2 RAM PRICE LIST

2010-04-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

ALL LATEST DDR AND DDR2 RAM

Prices of 512MB RAM chips have come down by at least Rs 500 this month in Mumbai. The ostensible reason is the holiday season in the European countries, which has diverted the RAM hardware to the Indian market.

Dushyant Mehta, distributor of Transcend RAM chips, Mediaman, said, “There’s a downtrend in the DDR market globally. The prices have gone down and are likely to remain so or fall further till the first week of January.”

As Gulbir Bhatia, proprietor, Prime ABGB, said, “This is a strategic move by the vendors to promote 512MB over 256MB. As of now, two 256MB RAM chips are more expensive than one 512MB chip. So buyers prefer the latter.

Interestingly, the price has fallen only for 512MB RAMs and not for other capacities. This is being interpreted by a section of the dealers as an indication that the 128 and 256MB RAMs will soon be phased out.

According to Nadeem Radiowala, proprietor, Cassette World, the prices started falling from the first week of December, and so far the price has fallen by Rs 500. “Last week itself the prices went down by Rs 100,” he said.

ALL DDR RAM , AND DDR2 RAM PRICE LIST

ALL LATEST DDR RAM WITH SPEED AND BRAND	ALL DDR RAM PRICE LIST
1 GB DDR RAM (SPEED) 400 MHz (TRENCEND)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1900/-
1 GB DDR RAM (SPEED) 333 MHz (ZION)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1800/-
1 GB DDR RAM (SPEED) 400 MHz (ZION)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1850/-
256MB DDR RAM(SPEED) 333 MHz	TODAY MARKET PRICE:425/-
256 MB DDR RAM (SPEED) 266 MHz	TODAY MARKET PRICE:500/-
512 MB DDR RAM (SPEED) 400 MHz(TRANCEND)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1150/-
512 MD DDR RAM (SPEED)266 MHz	TODAY MARKET PRICE:875/-

ALL LATEST DDR2 RAM WITH SPEED AND BRAND	ALL DDR2 2GB RAM PRICE LIST
512 MB DDR2 (SPEED) 677 MHz RAM (ZION)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:650/-
512 MB DDR2 (SPEED) 677 MHz RAM (TRANCEND)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:550/-
512 MB DDR2 (SPEED) 533 MHz RAM (ZION)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:575/-
512 MB DDR2 (SPEED) 533 MHz RAM (TRANCEND)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:700/-
512 MB DDR2 (SPEED) 677 MHz RAM (KINGSTON)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:650/-
512 MB DDR2 (SPEED) 677 MHz RAM (DYNET)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:475/-
1 GB DDR2 (SPEED) 667 MHz RAM (KINGSTON)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1000/-
1 GB DDR2 (SPEED) 800 MHz RAM (KINGSTON)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1175/-
1 GB DDR2 (SPEED) 677 MHz RAM (TRANCEND)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1050/-
1 GB DDR2 (SPEED) 800 MHz RAM (TRANCEND)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1090/-

NOW A LATEST 2 GB DDR2 RAM PRICE LIST

ALL LATEST 2GB DDR2 RAM WITH SPEED AND BRAND.	ALL DDR2 2GB RAM PRICE LIST
2 GB DDR2 (SPEED) 800 MHz RAM (TRANCEND)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1800/-
2 GB DDR2 (SPEED) 677 MHz RAM (KINGSTON)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1675/-
2 GB DDR2 (SPEED) 800 MHz RAM (KINGSTON)	TODAY MARKET PRICE:1900/-

An official from Abacus Peripherals, distributors of Hynix products, informed that the inventory of RAM chips had increased before Christmas in the international market. “With the onset of holidays, the surplus has been routed to Indian shores, which has caused the prices to fall.” He also said that the prevailing price in the Mumbai market is rock bottom price and will not fall further. The dealers at Lamington Road, however, are not so sure whether the current price will continue to remain the same after the market opens in January.

2010-04-28T00:59:00.000-07:00

NVIDIA GeForce 9300,9400 motherboard GPU for Desktops PC Computers

2010-04-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

ASUS P5Q PRO P45 Motherboard

2010-04-28T00:50:00.000-07:00

Intel D945GCCR – Affordable Motherboard

Intel Processor Price List

2010-04-28T00:45:00.000-07:00

Intel Core i7 Processor Price List India – Quad Core processor

Intel Core i7 920 Processor price – Rs.14,990
Intel Core i7 950 Processor price - Rs.31,500
Intel Core i7-860 processor price – Rs.16,500
Intel Core i7 870 processor price – Rs.32,400
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition 965 Processor price -Rs. 54,500

Intel Core i5 Processor Price List India – Quad Core processor

Intel Core i5-750 processor – Rs.10,600

Intel Core i3 Processor Price List India

Intel Core i3-530 processor price – Rs.6,500

Intel Quad Core Processor Price – Intel Core 2 Quad Price list in India

Intel Q9450 Core 2 Quad Processor – 15490/- Indian Rupee
Intel Q9400 Core 2 Quad Processor – 10000/- Indian Rupee
Intel Q8200 Core 2 Quad Processor – 8290/- Indian Rupee
Intel Q8400 Core 2 Quad Processor – 8590/- Indian Rupee
Intel Q9550 Core 2 Quad Processor – 11490/- Indian Rupee
Intel Q9650 Core 2 Quad Processor – 16500/- Indian Rupee
Intel Quad Core Q9505 (2.83 GHz,6MB L2 cache,1333MHz FSB) – Rs.11,400

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Price List India

Intel E8400 Core 2 Duo Processor – 8800/- Indian Rupee
Intel E8500 Core 2 Duo Processor – 8200/- Indian Rupee
Intel E7500 Core 2 Duo Processor – 5800/- Indian Rupee
Intel E7400 Core 2 Duo Processor – 6100/- Indian Rupee

Intel Dual Core Price list in India

Intel Dual-Core E5200 Processor – 3300/- Indian Rupee
Intel Dual-Core E5300 Processor – 3400/- indian rupee
Intel Dual-Core E2200 Processor – 3100/- indian rupee

Intel Dual Celeron Price list in India

Intel Celeron 430 Processor - 1990/- Indian Rupee

Laptop Buying Guide 2010 Part 2

2010-04-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

Optical Drive

One of the first options to go when you step down to a compact laptop is typically the optical drive. Although it used to be a staple of information sharing 10 years ago, many modern buyers find they can get all the content and software they need from the Internet, or from USB flash drives. We made the leap years ago to no optical drive and barely ever look back, but your results may vary. If you’re used to watching DVDs, burning CDs for friends and loading boxed software off discs, it may not make sense to omit an optical drive. Remember that you can always purchase an external drive to get the best of both worlds: full capability at home, and light weight on the go.

Blu-ray drives remain a luxury, and typically, an expensive upgrade. Before opting for one, ask yourself whether you can really take advantage of Blu-ray on your notebook. If the display will be anything less than 1080p (most notebooks are), we consider it a bit excessive, since you won’t even be able to appreciate full Blu-ray quality without hooking it up to a TV with an HDMI cable. Also make sure the rest of the hardware will be able to handle decoding Blu-ray (integrated graphics are a no go) and whether you’ll really want to watch full-length Blu-ray movies seated at a desktop computer. If you plan to burn Blu-ray discs, make sure you’ll actually be able to afford the media, which can still run up to $5 apiece in small quantities and don’t get much cheaper than $2 a disc in bulk.

Hard Drive

Hard drives boil down to two simple factors: size and speed.

How much space do you need? Consider your current computing habits. If you install every free program you run across on the Web, use your computer as a repository for home videos and pictures, and download lots of music and movies, we would recommend 500GB or more. On the other hand, if you’re mostly content with the software that comes on a computer and rarely tread outside streaming Internet content from the likes of YouTube and Hulu (which is the case for many people these days) you can probably get away with much less. We recently used a laptop with an 80GB drive for years without bumping into space issues, but you would be hard pressed to find much less than 160GB on a new computer these days.

Speed is another matter. Traditional hard drives typically spin at speeds between 5400 and 10,000 RPM, with the faster models obviously granting faster access to data. A quick hard drive can improve the time it takes to open a program or boot into Windows, but only marginally. Even most 5400RPM drives typically perform fine for most users, but we recommend 7200RPM if at all possible, and performance users should look into 10,000RPM drives, or solid-state drives, which, while expensive, can go even faster. On a laptop, solid-state drives are also lighter and more durable, since they have no moving parts. Check out our guide to solid state drives to find out whether you should consider the investment.

Wireless Options

These days, pretty much every notebook available comes with built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but you should always make sure. Opting for the latest 802.1n Wi-Fi standard will boost your connection speeds if you use your notebook for transferring massive files or streaming HD video, but standard 802.11g will work just fine for most people.

Batteries

Although the number of cells in a battery and measurements in milliamp hours (mAh) can help you determine how much juice a battery can actually store, neither really gives an insight into what you really want to know, which is how long they’ll actually last in your laptop. Refer to manufacturers’ claimed battery life figures to get an idea what a given machine is capable of, but keep in mind these are best-case-scenario numbers you probably won’t achieve in real life. Cut them about in half off for an intense usage scenario (like gaming or watching videos), and shave about a third off for more typical use, like casual surfing.

Up until recently, almost all laptops used swappable lithium-ion battery packs, making it easy to change a stock battery out for a larger model with more capacity or to replace it at the end of its lifetime. More recently, a number of laptops, including Apple’s popular MacBooks, have begun using sealed lithium-polymer batteries. While lighter in weight, they also make it impossible to upgrade capacity or keep spare batteries on hand, and if one wears down, you’ll need to send it to a technician for replacement. Many users never touch their batteries anyway, and won’t miss the flexibility, but road warriors and those who plan to keep their machines running for years and years should take note.

Display

The size of your notebook will dictate the size of your screen, but that’s only one of many factors that can make or break a quality display.

Choosing whether you want a matte or reflective screen can dramatically impact how useful your notebook will be in the field. While reflective screens often seem to “pop” more brightness and color, they also act as mirrors to some degree, which can make them downright unusable in the sun or under bright lighting. Matte screens, meanwhile, don’t quite catch the eye as much as their reflective cousins, but perform better in a variety of ambient lighting conditions.

Brightness will also determine whether you’ll be surfing away on a park bench on the first sunny day in spring, or squinting into a dark abyss. Candelas per meter squared (cd/m2) are considered the standard measurement for brightness. Average laptops typically offer around 250 to 300 cd/m2, while those with premium screens can offer up to 400 cd/m2.

Contrast ratio – the difference between the brightest whites and darkest blacks a screen can produce – should also come into play, but companies have found ways to twist these stats significantly, so take numbers with a grain of salt and trust your eyes. Viewing angles – how far you can turn to the side before the screen colors distort or wash out – are often similarly misrepresented, but you should read reviewers’ impressions to see whether a particular laptop excels or lags behind in this department.

Laptop Buying Guide 2010

2010-04-26T04:03:00.000-07:00

Torn between netbook and notebook? Boggled by dongles? Puzzled by processors? We offer a simple lay of the land for your next laptop purchase.

When you have to jiggle the power connector just right to get your seven-year-old ThinkPad to wheeze to life, only to take 20 minutes to load a YouTube video, it’s time to put the old beast out to pasture and start anew. But where do you begin in today’s notebook market, which has expanded so much that portables now outsell desktops? With a buying guide, of course. Use this comprehensive buying guide to examine some of the key factors and specs to check when buying a new notebook computer.

Size and Form Factor

Unlike on a desktop, where size and shape are an afterthought for a system you’ll likely kick under a desk anyway, the chassis on a laptop makes all the difference in usability. Buy something too small, and you’ll type at half the speed and squint to make out your latest e-mails and Facebook updates. Buy too big, and you’ll pass out from exhaustion after trying to lug the monster from one room to the next.

You’ll find all sorts of ways to describe different classes of laptops, but screen size is the common denominator. At 12 inches and below, portable computers are typically branded as netbooks. Above 12 inches, they’re laptops or notebooks, and somewhere around 16 inches – it gets a little fuzzy – you run into desktop replacements. To add to that confusion, any notebook with a screen that can swivel around and lay flat is typically called a tablet PC, regardless of the size.

If you’re buying a laptop to use all the time as your primary computer, we wouldn’t advise going any smaller than 13.3 inches. Laptops in that tiny size range are easy to tote, but not comfortable enough for that eight-hour date with a term paper, and typically come in light on power as well. A 14- or 15-inch inch screen makes for a good all-around machine that will make you perfectly happy at home or on the road. Stepping up to anything larger typically diminishes portability quite a bit –especially because the large displays and powerful hardware that occupy that space typically drain batteries like kindergarteners drain juice boxes. But if you plan to use them at home most of the time, you’ll find the computing experience almost like using a desktop.

Processor

The most important bit of hardware in your notebook can also be one of the most difficult to choose. Between Intel and AMD, models lines including Pentium, Core 2 Duo, Athlon, Sempron, and more, GHz ratings that aren’t comparable between companies, things start to look pretty complicated. PCWorld offers one of the most comprehensive guides on the subject, but let’s look at just the basics.

For most users, two is the magic number for cores. Two cores will offer excellent multitasking capability, and because they’ve become a de facto standard for new PCs, they’re reasonably affordable, too. Three or four cores will obviously offer more performance – especially for processor-intense applications like video editing – but most users simply won’t take advantage of all the extra horsepower, and you won’t find them until you step up to about 16 inches.

Clock speeds (ex. 3.2GHz) are still an important indicator of CPU performance, but can only really be compared within similar lines. A 2.0GHz Intel Atom processor is faster than 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, but not necessarily faster than a 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. Other factors include front-side bus speed, onboard cache, whether it’s a 32- or 64-bit processor, and many more. Check out PCWorld’s guide if you really want to understand how they all interact to make up performance.

As with many aspects of PC buying, you generally get what you pay for, so let price be a rough guide to processors when the tangle of naming schemes and specs proves to be a little bit too much, and do research on the individual processor you’re considering buying to get a better idea how it will perform with what you intend to use it for.

Also keep in mind that the most powerful processors eat up the most battery life. Even if you have the extra cash to throw around, picking up an oinker of a processor might come back to bite you if you plan to spend the majority of your computing time away from an outlet.

Memory

With operating systems and software gobbling up more and more memory as time wears on (Outlook alone is gobbling up 125MB on the PC we’re writing this on), this is not an area where you want to skimp. The 32-bit version of Windows (whether XP, Vista or Windows 7) can only make use of up to 4GB of RAM, and that’s the amount we recommend you look for, considering how inexpensive it typically is.

That said, remember that RAM is easy to install yourself, so you can buy less to begin with and add more if you find performance lacking. Just be sure the configuration your PC comes in will allow you to add more (ordering 2GB on a motherboard with two DIMM slots might get you two 1GB sticks, meaning you’ll have to toss one of the old sticks to add more). For a desktop running Windows 7 or Windows Vista, consider 1GB the bare minimum.

Video Card

Laptops aren’t typically the first choice of gamers, but if you plan do any gaming outside of five-year-old titles and casual titles like Plants vs. Zombies, you’re going to need a discrete video card. ATI and Nvidia are the two major players in this space.

Unlike a desktop purchase, where manufacturers might offer you any number of available cards for a computer, laptops manufacturers will typically only offer a couple, if any at all. If you’re looking for a specific model, you might actually have to let your choice of video card guide you to a notebook, rather than vice versa. In general, let price be your guide. At the high end, the most expensive cards can easily stack on hundreds of dollars for a sliver of extra performance, while at the bottom end, spending $50 for any graphics card at all can offer a massive boost in performance. We recommend sticking to the bottom end for the best value, unless you’re sure you’ll take advantage of all the extra horsepower. Consider 512MB “standard” for a graphics card and 1GB supreme.

If battery life is a concern, consider a notebook with switchable graphics, like Lenovo’s U550. This will let you run at full bore on a discrete card when you’re out for blood, then switch back to a more efficient integrated graphics card when you’re just surfing or piddling around, and want to preserve battery life. Notebooks with Nvidia’s new Optimus platform will even switch automatically for you.

Laptop Brands – Buying Guide

2010-04-26T03:09:00.000-07:00

In order to make it easy for you to differentiate between different brands of laptops by giving you an understanding of what each brand has to offer; we have decided to give you a quick preview of various brands. In order to do so we will be publishing a series of reviews featuring each laptop manufacturer brand and a generous scoop of our knowledge on the key strengths and weaknesses so that you would know what brand to look for that best meets your computing needs.

Just like everything else laptops have constantly evolved to answer our needs and different brand and models offer specific features and benefits. Laptops are not just laptops for that matter; we have standard 15″ laptops for the average user, 8″ mini netbook for the traveler and portablity seeker or Widescreen and tablet PC for the multimedia and game lovers.

It would be an interesting exercise to delve in to the details and see the comparison of different brands such as IBM Laptops and HP Laptops , Sony Vaio and Dell Laptops to identify what each of them do better than others. So watch-out this space for some expert laptop brand reviews.

List of laptop brands and manufacturers

2010-04-22T23:36:00.000-07:00

Major brands

Acer - TravelMate, Extensa, Ferrari, Aspire
Apple - MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
ASUS - Asus Eee, Lamborghini
Compaq - Evo, Armada, LTE, Presario
Dell - Inspiron, Latitude, Precision, Studio, Vostro, XPS, Studio XPS
Fujitsu - LifeBook, Stylistic
G7 Systems - Genius Book, Hi-Fi PC, G7 Studio, G7 Extreme [1]
Gateway
Hewlett-Packard - HP Pavilion, HP Omnibook, HP Compaq Notebooks
Lenovo - ThinkPad, IdeaPad, 3000 series
Panasonic - Toughbook, Satellite, Let's Note (available in Japan only) [2]
Sony - VAIO
Toshiba - Dynabook, Portege, Tecra, Satellite, Qosmio, Libretto

Gaming brands

Gateway - FX Series
Abbcore Technologies - Velocita
Alienware - Area 51m, Alienware Sentia and Aurora m, M15x, M17x
AVADirect
CyberPower
Dell XPS - M1730 (laptop), and M1530 (laptop)
Falcon Northwest - DR6800, TL2
iBuyPower
Vigor Gaming - Atlantis, Augustus, Artorius, and Aegis
WidowPC

Laptops for children

Digital Textbook
Elonex ONE
InkMedia
Intel - Classmate PC
OLPC XO-1 - $100 Laptop or Children's Machine
Tianhua GX-1C
Eee PC

Other brands

Abbcore Technologies - Desktop, Notebook, Server, Media Center
Acorn Computers - Deskbook, Desknote and Solonote
Averatec
BenQ
Everex - CloudBook, gBook
Founder Technology
Fujitsu Siemens - Lifebook, FMV - BiBlo, Amilo, Esprimo Mobile
G7 - Genius Book
Gericom
Gigabyte Technology
Gliese IT
Hasee
HCL
HTC - HTC Shift
Hypersonic
Hyundai
Jetta (electronics company) - Jetbook
LG - Xnote
LinuxCertified - Linux laptop
MDG Computers
Medion
Micro-Star International (MSI) - Megabook, Wind
NEC - VERSA, LaVie
Neo - Empiriva, Endura
Noahpad
OCZ
OQO
Orca
Packard Bell - EasyNote
PC Club
Philips - X200
Pioneer Computers
Positivo Informática
Prestigio
Sager Notebook Computers
Seanix - Seanix
Sharp - Mebius
Siragon, C.A.
System76
TabletKiosk
Tongfang
Turbo-X (Greece only)
Vestel
VIA - NanoBook, pc-1 Initiative
Voodoo PC - Envy
Zenith
Zepto
Wipro Technologies
Zinox Technologies

HP Pavilion Laptops Prices

2010-04-22T00:49:00.000-07:00

HP Pavilion Laptop DV4-1415TU
Price: Rs-40450

This HP Laptop is one the cheapest priced variety from HP with full set of features. Weighs only 2.26kg powered by Intel Core2Duo Mobile processor gives quiet and fast processing most will like. The enhanced speed step technology is the added advantage of this HP laptop. The Price of this HP laptop is a good bargain for its features. Intel GM45 Express Chipset and 3GB of DDR2 RAM are its other two very attracting features. HDMI v1.3 and one eSATA port which can transfer files at 3GB/sec are gives us the feature technology proof.

The missing part of this laptop is its DDR2 RAM when we are all looking for the DDR3 RAM. And it is not Windows7. We hope very soon HP will release more laptops with Windows7 operating system.

Even these are the missing points, we highly recommend this HP Laptop for its cheap price with full bundled features. It is a real gift from HP.

HP Pavilion Laptop DV4-1415TU Specification
Microprocessor
• Intel Core2 Duo Mobile Processor T6600 (2.2 GHz)
• Enhanced Speed-Step Technology
• 800 MHz FSB
• 2 MB Integrated L2 advanced transfer cache
Chipset
• Intel GM45 Express Chipset
Memory RAM
• 3 GB PC2-6400 DDR2 (800 MHz)
• 2 SODIMM Slots
Hard Drive
• 320 GB SATA Drive
• 150 MB/sec @ 7200 RPM
• HP ProtectSmart HDD Protection
DVD Drive
• 8X SuperMulti Drive with DL
• LightScribe Technology
• DVD+RW/+R Writer
Graphics
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500M HD
Display
• 14.1inch Widescreen TFT
• 1280 x 768 WXGA
• 16:10 Aspect Ratio
• BrightView Display
• Audio / Speakers
• SRS Audio
• High Definition Audio
• Altec Lansing Stereo Speakers

LAN
• Integrated 10/100 LAN
• High Speed 56K Modem
5-In-1 Digital Media Reader
• Secure Digital(SD), Multi-media card(MMC), Memory stick (MS), Memory stick pro(MSP) and xD card
Wireless LAN
• Integrated Wireless LAN 802.11b/g
Bluetooth
• Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 HP
Others
• ExpressCard/54 slot
Ports
• One HDMI v1.3 with HDCP Key
• eSATA (3 Gb/sec) / USB 2.0 combo Port
• Two USB 2.0 Ports
• Two Stereo Headphone Jacks
• One Microphone In (Stereo)
• One RJ-11 – Modem
• One RJ-45 – NIC
• One DC Power In
• One VGA Out
• Expansion port 3
• Docking port
• Kensington Lock
Pointing Device & Keyboard
• Touch Pad with Two way Scroll Zone
• 86 Keys layout; 12 Function Keys
• Fingerprint Reader
Webcam and Microphones
• In-built Web Cam
• Digital Dual Array microphones
Operating System
• Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
Additional Software
• Motorola SoftStylus
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.x
Entertainment / Imaging
• Cyberlink DVD Suite
• HP MediaSmart
• HP MediaSmart DVD
• HP MediaSmart Music
• HP MediaSmart Photo
• HP MediaSmart Webcam
• Muvee Reveal
• HP Games -Shareware
• Digital Persona Fingerprint Reader
• 3D Drive Guard HDD Protection
• Norton Internet Security 2009 (Includes 60 days of Live updates)
• Norton Anti-Virus (Includes 60 days of Live updates)
• Recovery Disc Creator

Accessorie
• HP Mobile ExpressCard Remote Control
Battery
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion
Dimensions ? (H x W x D)

• 1.34/1.56 x 13.14 x 9.43 inches
Weight

• 2.26 Kgs / 5 lbs

Warranty – One Year.

HP Pavilion DV4-1404TU Laptop
Price : Rs-39500

In this HP Laptop the processor is a Intel Pentium Dual Core Mobile Processor T4300 (2.1GHz). This HP Laptop is widely available in India at best and cheap prices. The price is cheap compare to some models of this same configuration. We can say the advantages of this HP Laptop are its Processor which is a Mobile Processor which will definitely consume less power compared to other models of laptops. The other major advantage on buying this HP Laptop are it’s powerful Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500M HD which is from Intel, the 3GB DDR2 800MHz RAM, 320GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Disk Drive with HDD Protection, the HDMI v1.3 Port and the eSATA/USB Combo Port. Apart from these there are other factures also we need to consider before buying this Laptop. The weight and battery life which are most important for portability. The weight is 2.26KGs which is comfortable for any person on regular travel. This HP Laptop comes with 6 Cell lithium battery, which is quiet good for long battery life. The operating system is Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit version. Read more and visit us regularly to know the latest laptop prices in India.

This HP Laptop Specification
• Processor : Intel Pentium Dual-Core Mobile Processor T4300 (2.1 GHz)
• Chipset : Intel GM45 Express Chipset / 1MB L2 Cache / 800 Mhz FSB
• RAM: 3 GB PC2-6400 DDR2 (800 MHz)
• HDD: 320 GB SATA @ 5400 RPM with HDD Protection
• DVD Drive: Super Multi Drive DVD +RW/ +R Writer Light Scribe
• Display: 14.1″ WideScreen (WXGA) with BrightView Technology
• Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium (32 bit)
• WiFi : Integrated 802.11b/g Wireless LAN
• Graphics : Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500M HD
• Ports : One HDMI v1.3 / eSATA/USB Combo Port / 2 USB 2.0
• Weight – 2.26 Kgs
• 6 Cell Lithium Battery
• Carry Case
• Fingerprint Reader
• VGA Web Cam & Microphones
• Others: HP Media Smart, HP Mobile Express Card Remote Control, Acrobat Reader 8.0, HP Games

HP Pavilion Laptop – DV6-1211AX
Price : Rs-46000

This HP Pavilion Laptop is AMD Turion X2 Processor Powered with 4GB of DDR2 800MHz RAM. It is a good configuration for a powerful Laptop in this price range. The other important specification of this HP Laptop are, 320GB Hard Disk Drive which is 5400 RPM ( HDD Protection ), The Super Multi DVD Drive, Finger Print Reader, Integrated 802.11a/b/g/draft-n Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1 HDMI Port, 1 eSATA/USB Combo Port and 3 USB 2.0 Ports. The operating system installed on this HP laptop is “Windows Vista Home Premium (32 Bit Version). For complete specification, click the link below.

This HP Laptop Specification
• Processor: AMD Turion X2 Processor RM-75 (2.2 GHz), Dual Core
• Chipset: AMD M770
• L2 Cache : 1MB
• FSB : Upto 3600MHz
• 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM (800MHz)
• 320GB SATA Hard Disk Drive with HDD Protection ( RPM 5400)
• Super Multi Drive DVD +/- RW / +/-R Writer (Light Scibe)
• 15.6″ Widescreen (WXGA) with Brightview Technology
• Windows Vista Home Premium Operating System (32Bit)
• FingerPrint Reader
• VGA Webcam
• Microphones
• Integrated 802.11a/b/g/draft-n Wireless LAN
• Bluetooth
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 -1GB Dedicated Graphics
• One HDMI v1.3 Port
• One eSATA/USB Combo Port
• 3 USB 2.0 Ports
• Weight : 2.93Kgs
• 6 Cell Lithium Battery
• Carry Case
• HP Mobile Express Card Remote Control
• HP Games
Under Same Laptop Prices
• HP Pavilion DV4-1404TU Laptop

Dell Inspiron Laptops Prices

2010-04-22T00:35:00.000-07:00

Dell Inspiron Mini Laptop – Mini10
Price: Rs-22000

Mini Laptop from Dell. Small and powerful Mini10 from Dell. The model is ” Dell Inspiron Mini10″ and it is powered by intel Atom Processor Z530 (1.6GHz) 512KB Cache. The display is 10.1 Widescreen WXGA(1280X800)With 1.3MP Web Camera. This Mini laptop model comes in two prices. The main difference for the higher price is for it’s battery. The low priced one is built with 3 Cell Battery whereas the higher priced model comes with 6Cell Battery. We highly recommed this higher priced version for it’s long time battery power. Long battery power is the very essential feature of any Mini Laptops as it is mainly designed for mobility. This “Dell inspiron Mini Laptop” is a hot product in India. As in most of the mini laptops, this is also not comes with any Optical Disk Drives ( No CD/DVD Drive). No Case or laptop bag. Need to buy a good laptop bag or laptop sleeve once immediately bought this laptop as there are lot of chances to drop for it’s small factor design.

• Dell inspiron Mini10 Laptop Specification
• Processor: INTEL® ATOM™ PROCESSOR Z530 (1.6GHz) 512KB CACHE
• Display: 10.1 WIDESCREEN WXGA(1280X800)
• Camera: 1.3MP WEB CAMERA
• Memory: 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk Drive: 160GB HDD
• Operating System: GENUINE WINDOWS® XP HOME EDITION
• Graphics: INTEGRATED GRAPHICS MEDIA ACCELERATOR X500
• Card Reader: 3-IN-1 MEDIA CARD READER
• BUILT IN WIFI / BLUETOOTH / 10/100 LAN
• 3-CELL LITHIUM ION BATTERY(Less Priced) / 6-CELL LITHIUM ION BATTERY (Higher Priced)
• NO CASE
• COLOR OPTIONS
• 1 YEAR ON-SITE LIMITED WARRANTY NEXT BUSINESS DAY
Under Same Laptop Prices
• Acer Aspire One AO751H

Dell Vostro Laptop A840
Price : Rs-28750

This is Dell Vostro Laptop Model A840 which is built with Intel Core2Duo processor. The color is Black. The Hard Disk Drive is 160GB. The Laptop Memory on this Dell Vostro Laptop is 1GB DDR2 ( Not DDR3 and 1GB is not a good configuration). The chipset is Intel X3100. The Laptop Processor model is T5470. Warranty on this Dell laptop is 1 Year Carry in. The disadvantage on this laptop – there is no webcam.

Laptop Specification

• Intel Core2Duo processor T5470
• 160GB HDD
• 1GB DDR2 Laptop Memory
• DVD +/-RW Drive
• Laptop Color – Black
• Chipset : Intel X3100
• 14.1 inch Display
• Warranty: 1 year Carry in
• Webcam: NO
• 6 Cell Laptop Battery
• Large Nylon Carry Case
• Bluetooth : YES
Under Same Laptop Prices
• Lenovo Ideapad G450 ( 14″ Screen )
• Acer Extensa Laptop 4630Z
• Acer Extensa 4630 Laptop
• Acer Aspire 4736Z Laptop

Dell Vostro Laptop Bundle1
Price: Rs-32000

Dell laptop bundle offer #1. Available only on availability. Check the Dell dealer nearest to you.

This Dell laptop comes with the Intel T5670 processor. 160GB Hard Disk Drive and 1GB Memory. The video card is Intel X3100 gives better clarity video output. DVD+/- RW slot drive, 1.3Mega Pixel camera, Bluetooth and 6cell Battery.

The Operating system in this Dell laptop is Free DOS. But possible upgrade to Vista or buy your own Vista operating system and install. Free Large Nylon Carry Case.

This Dell Laptop Specification
• Processor: Intel T5670
• HDD: 160GB
• RAM: 1GB
• Video Card: Intel X3100
• Operating System: Free DOS
• Optical Drive: Slot Drive DVD+/-RW
• Display: 15.4 inch WXGA
• Bluetooth
• 1.3 Mega pixel
• Battery: 6 Cell
• Carry Bag: Big Nylon Laptop Bag
Under Same Laptop Prices
• Lenovo Ideapad G450 ( 14″ Screen )
• Lenovo Ideapad G430 ( 14″ Screen)
• HP Pavilion Laptop – DV2-1003AX
• Acer Aspire 4736Z Laptop

Compaq Laptop Price in India

2010-04-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

Compaq Laptop Price in India – Compaq Presario Laptop Prices
Compaq Laptop offers performance and reliability into one portable system. With all connectivity options, Intel and AMD processors and new technology give you a good mobile computing solution.
Compaq Presario laptops have enough features to make your life easy. Whether you’re working on a spreadsheet, or watching favourite DVD, this notebook delivers value and performance.

• Compaq Presario C707TU Price – 29,500/-
• Compaq Presario C738TU Price – 30,500/-
• Compaq Presario C733TU Price – 23,000/-
• Compaq Presario C702TU Price – 22,000/-
• Compaq Presario C752TU Price – 35,500/-
• Compaq Presario A901TU Price – 38,500/-
• Compaq Presario A902TU Price – 32,500/-
• Compaq Presario A933TU Price – 39,500/-
• Compaq Presario C707TU Price – 29,500/-
• Compaq Presario C772TU Price – 29,300/-
• Compaq Presario C734TU Price – 23,000/-
• Compaq Presario C754TU Price – 23,000/-
• Compaq Presario V3777TU Price – 36,500/-
• Compaq Presario V3780TU Price – 42,500/-
• Compaq Presario C773TU Price – 35,500/-
• Compaq Presario C770TU Price – 29,500/-
• Compaq Presario C784TU Price – 34,500/-
• Compaq Presario C786TU Price – 39,500/-
• Compaq Presario C783TU Price – 28,500/-
• Compaq Presario C791TU Price – 26,000/-
• Compaq Presario CQ50-106AU Price – 30,500/-
• Compaq Presario C931TU Price – 32,500/-

Dell Inspiron 9400 with Core 2 Duo and Nvidia 7900 GS Review

2009-06-10T02:39:00.000-07:00

The Dell Inspiron 9400 is the Canadian version of the Dell Inspiron e1705. For American's, this notebook is the business model of the e1705. There is almost no difference between the 9400 and an e1705, the only difference being the model number that is displayed on top of the keyboard. The 9400 is built as a desktop replacement, offering some of the most powerful laptop components on the market, some of which include the new Intel Core 2 Duo processors and the NVIDIA Go 7900 GS GPU.

Specs:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 (2 GHz, 4 MB Cache, 667 MHz FSB)
Ram: 2GB (2x 1GB) DDR2 SDRam, 533 MHz
Screen: 17 Inch Ultrasharp WUXGA with TrueLife, 1920x1200
Hard Drive: 120GB, 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS
Optical drive: 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with Dual Layer Write Capability
Wireless: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Battery: 80WHR 9 Cell Battery
Soundcard: Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Warranty: 3 Year Accidental Coverage
Price: $1987.50 CDN, which is approximately $1709.25 USD. With taxes and recycling fee: $2,106.75 CDN or $1,811.80 USD. I haggled the price down, originally with a 3 year accidental warranty, it would have cost at least $200 CDN more than the price that I purchased it at.

Dell Laptop Inspiron 9400 LCD Panel

2009-06-10T02:31:00.000-07:00