Computer Hardware - Guide to the PC Hardware

According to rumors going around in the Computer INternet community, the next GPU’s being released by NVidia will be the 9900 GTX and the 9900GX2.

Now, nVidia just released the 9800GX2 and 9800GTX GPUs a few weeks before. So why would they keep releasing more and more new ones? Well, nVidia is releasing the 9900 series to replace the 9800 series. The 9900GTX will replace the 9800GTX, and the 9900GX2 will replace the 9800GX2. But again, why would they do this?

Frankly, I don’t really know what the heck they’re thinking. Doesn’t that sound familiar though? That’s the same thing they did for the 9800GTX; it was released to replace the former 8800GTX. So, why would they do the same thing twice? Well, a rather simple idea is that nVidia is stalling for more time. More time for what? To develop new chips of course!

Have you noticed that ever since the debut of the G92 chip in the 8800GT that they’ve been stalled in development? Here, look at their GPU’s: the 8800GT, the 8800GTS G92, the 9600GT(G94, which is a close sibling of the G92), the 9800GX2(just two G92 chips put together on a single card) and the 9800GTX(again, the G92 chip). They’ve been using the same chip for many months now. In my opinion, now would be the time for something new, something just so original that it just beats every other GPU.

If they keep this up, they may give ATi enough time to catch up on them in market shares, and maybe beat nVidia! Then no more part-monopoly! Who knows what will happen. But this will be a very interesting battle.

To read more computer hardware articles, go to http://www.ImIcarus.com

Do the words ultra-light, ultra-compact, ultra-thin when used for laptops send your wallet scurrying for cover? Sweat no more, Asus came up with the perfect solution for you. Its small, its light and it just works. It’s called the Eee PC!

When Asus announced the Eee PC in 2007, people were highly skeptical of its performance and quality considering the low price tag. “Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play” but didn’t seem to be easy to pull off. The first Eee PC 4G was released on October 16, 2007. Needless to say it was a major success and sold 300,000 units by the end of the year.

So what was it that made this laptop, if we can call it that, such a huge success? Let’s take a closer look. It sports a 7 inch WXGA (800 x 480) screen flanked by stereo speakers on either side and a VGA webcam on the top. Its actual dimensions are 225 × 165 × 21-35 mm and it weighs a shade over 2 lbs. Add to it the usual gamut of onboard audio ports, standard VGA out connector, Ethernet Jack, 3 USB 2.0 ports, one MMC/SD Card holder, built in Wi-Fi and a Kensington Lock slot, one PCI-e mini slot and that’s pretty much everything crammed in to the package. There is a microphone too that sits, surprisingly, on the underside.

On the inside it is powered by a 900 Mhz Celeron UMV Processor, already under clocked to 630 Mhz by Asus, whose focus is more on lowering power consumption than number crunching to try and get as much battery life out of its 4 cell Li-Ion battery. Depending up on the usage it can last anywhere from 2 to 3.5 hours. A 910 chipset based motherboard keeps things tidy with all the onboard devices. Memory ranges from 512 MB to 1 GB depending upon the model, which is more than enough to run Xandros, the linux distro shipped with it or Windows XP which will soon be available as an option. But here comes the best part, its shipped with SSD instead of HDD. The result: Lower power consumption, faster performance, and more durability and so on. On the flip side it means they are able to ship it with only 2 GB, 4 GB and 8GB models. And thanks to the preinstalled programs the actual user usable storage space is limited to 400 MB, 1.6 GB and 5.1 GB respectively. Well to wipe that look of disappointment off your face, the SD slot supports SDHC so you can chuck in a 32 GB card in there to take care of your storage needs.

It comes with 40 preinstalled applications including Flash games, Firefox, Open Office, SMPlayer and Skype to take care of most of your productivity and entertainment needs. Ok, so you cannot play Crysis on it, but you can do the basic things like create and use documents, surf the net, chat, play movies and music and so on. It’s not a desktop replacement, it’s for those who need a laptop but cannot afford one or do not want to lug around a 5-6 pound notebook. It’s meant for young kids, senior citizens, students. It’s meant for writers like me who would love to be able to travel around with my office restricted to a notepad sized device that weighs less than the Physics book in my college! Asus plans to sell few millions of these this year and with the next generation 9 inch model just announced I don’t see anyone stopping them from doing it.

This article is written by Jason Campbell who runs eDealsDepot - one of the most successful coupon websites on the internet for handpicked deals.

Data drives many an organization. It is critical to the functioning of several applications that cost valuable resources in terms of time and money. For data to be of use, it needs to be properly stored such that it is easy to access, easy to protect, easy to duplicate for redundancy, easy to backup, easy disaster recovery, and easy to archive.

Information storage presents a challenge to every IT department and you should be equipped with the information necessary to select the most appropriate storage technology for your business. The storage technology should enable your business to fulfill compliance legislations regarding the storing and archiving of sensitive data so that data integrity and privacy is maintained.

Consider factors like the amount of data to be stored; your budget; growth plans and scalability of your existing systems; your IT staffing; extent of availability required; backup requirements, etc. Large companies often opt for a combination of solutions

DAS is ideal for small businesses where local data sharing is of prime significance. DAS involves storage devices that are a part of the host computer or are connected to a server. Thus, networked applications can access the storage only through the server. DAS offers the advantage of easy installation and lower costs as compared to NAS and SAN devices. DAS is also easier to maintain so long as the number of servers in use is less. Management becomes complex as the number of servers escalates as each server needs to be administered separately. Issues with DAS include an inability to transfer data if the server is down. Also, since the server also processes other traffic such as emails it can slow down the access to critical data. Data availability often suffers due to bandwidth problems and bottlenecks in the network. DAS does not support high scalability.

NAS has developed to tackle the shortcomings of a server-based storage system such as DAS. NAS devices free the server from the dual job of storing files and application serving. NAS is dedicated to storage and thus eliminated server slowdowns. NAS allows for faster file access for multiple clients and leads to better performance and productivity. NAS is popular amongst SMBs as an entry-level solution and it has a very wide user-base worldwide. NAS benefits include easy plug-and-play technology that does not require the presence of an IT staff. Disk drive technology grows cheaper by the day and NAS costs are falling.

A SAN infrastructure is more suited to an enterprise environment. It is a high performance storage network between servers and storage devices. It is deployed separate from the LAN. SANs are popular because they offer reliability necessary for mission-critical applications. A SAN setup can consist of NAS as well as DAS and a fiber channel that enables the transfer of a large volume of data between points located large distances apart. SANs offer 24 x 7 availability even for applications that require a large amount of bandwidth, such as database and transaction processing.

For more information visit Best Price Computers

The market for storage devices is growing by the day, being driven by an ever increasing demand for storage options to fit various business types and business models. When you start looking for a storage device, you would do well to keep in mind the following tips; these will help you get a purchase that will not only fulfill your storage requirements but also get you a fast ROI.

Consider convergence - The two major enterprise storage systems - NAS and SAN have reached a stage where there is little to distinguish between the two. So, within the same system you can have a file-level NAS and a block-level SAN. If you wish you can integrate NAS functionality into your SAN storage by the simple addition of a gateway appliance. Functional convergence allows you to get the best out of your storage devices.

Ease of deployment - Ease of deployment and ease of use are major considerations as they have a direct bearing on your IT costs. This is of special significance for small businesses that do not have a dedicated staff for manning storage. SMBs should look for features such as disk auto-notification, backup failure, degradation of RAID, or alarms on capacities getting full. Automation allows admin to focus on other aspects of storage management and also nip potentially downtime-causing incidents in the bud.

Energy conservation - Storage devices can be major energy guzzlers and storage needs of a business can only grow; they do not become less. So keep energy efficiency in mind. Look up virtualization for improving utilization. See if you can consolidate your servers. Learn about the relationship between disk capacity and efficiency. Look up products with energy-efficiency features that can control disk drives in both active and idle states.

Storage utilization - Keep storage utilization in mind and a lot of things will fall in place. You will save on energy, your capital outlay will be less and you will make better use of whatever you spend. Look for de-duplication devices that can help free disk capacities. Tiered storage helps in improving storage capacities by migrating less frequently used data to lower-cost storage systems while keeping mission-critical data on high-performance devices. Incorporate this with archiving and you can also improve your backup procedures and their efficiencies.

Scalability - Keep scalability and a modular architecture in mind. These are important factor that affect the present and future costs of your storage systems.

When purchasing a storage system, maintain due diligence and do not fall for marketing claims. Be aware of your storage requirements and technical expertise. Check how mature and pervasive competing technologies are and the performance levels that your business requires.

For more information visit Best Price Computers

Digital projectors are used to convert image data directly from the computer onto a screen via lens system. In presentation, Digital Projectors gives visualization of those data which is stored in a computer. These projectors can be used for watching moving images from DVD or any other secondary memory like CD etc. These projectors are also greatly used by advertisers or sellers to give demonstration of products to a large number of customers.

Now a day Digital projectors play a key role in the arrangement of home theater systems. Resolution of 800×600 pixels is used in expensive devices. Resolution as well as its brightness determined the cost of digital projector

LCD is the short form for Liquid Crystal Display. LCD is a technology that is used to present a digital image for viewing, for example, on a laptop or via a projector. LCD technologies are being used in most Projectors.

LCD projectors are flexible, consistent and convenient. They are compatible to most systems and can be easily connected to video, PC and laptops. One of the important features of LCD projectors is that, they can project images on any surface with equal brightness. They can present data, graphics and video. These projectors weigh are very less as compare to any other, they are easily movable. They have long-life bulbs and also built-in speakers.

Following three technologies are used in digital projectors:
1. High strength CRT
2. LCD light gates
3. New Texas technology

Now with the help of digital projectors everyone can enjoy home theater applications.

For more information on Digital Plasma rentals and LCD Projectors rentals visit RentFusion.com

Many people think that upgrading their video card is an impossible task. They are being scared even more when someone tells them that they need an expert. This is not true. Ordinary computer users can change their video card without any hassles.

First, people have to realize that there are certain ‘checks’ that you need to pay special attention to. Motherboards usually have either AGP slot or PCI slot. AGP slot is an old video card standard being replaced by PCI which is completely different. They are not compatible. It means that you can use your AGP video card on a motherboard that’s got PCI slot.

Now, you have to figure out whether you have AGP or PCI. Its usually maroon but can also be brown. PCI slot is totally black and is easily recognizable.

However, if you have PCI express video card slot, you can purchase PCI video card which is cheaper then AGP. Since AGP is being replaced, it will become more expensive to purchase because supply will be less than demand. However, over the years, it is proven that new technology becomes popular quite fast.

Now that you know more about AGP and PCI Express, got ahead and look for video cards. I suggest you get one for you needs. Today, the most common video cards have from 128 MB to 256 MB. So, if you purchase one that has 512 MB of memory, it should last you for a long time and plus you will enjoy running Windows Vista if you even decide to install it. Good luck.

Sami Johnson is the creator of http://www.expertset.com - Get more hardware news from http://www.expertset.com

As I build out my web site and look for good, relevant, and free information about computers I always stumble across a web site that claims ‘Do It Yourself and Save’ but once you get in to the site the information is so skimpy or inaccurate you wonder how these sites were put together. I mean if the information is bad or incomplete how did they keep their computers up and running long enough to write the articles? Others give you a partial answer and then have an ad next to it trying to entice you in to buying their services.

You want answers? You can’t handle the answer! Ok, I’ll give it to you straight: They are ripping you off! 98% of the problems a computer encounters to day can be fixed by anyone, well maybe a two year old couldn’t but a three year old could. That is how simple the computer industry has made computers now. Back when, oppps, ten years ago you would have to call a tech or take your computer to a repair shop to get a part replaced. Partly because of warranty partly because the technology.

You have a problem with your computer? Search the internet, someone, somewhere, at sometime has written an article on how to fix it. Also ten years ago the parts in your computer were more modular as they are to day. I’ll give you a minute to digest that tid-bit of information…

Ten years ago when you bought a computer the computer had a lot of different parts like: motherboard, processor, memory, hard drive, video card, and floppy drive. Then there were the extras or add-ons: sound card, high resolution video, game controller card, extra serial and parallel ports card, network card, cd rom (before DVD remember) and some special purpose cards. Now all those parts with the exception of the CD or DVD drive are built in to the motherboard.

So if you take a computer apart and look at the main components you have: Motherboard, hard drive, CD or DVD drive, memory, processor, and some extra fans. Anything else will be on the motherboard. Unless you upgrade you live with what is on the motherboard too.

So what does that mean to you? Well it means fewer things to go wrong! Your hard drive fails you can take it to a repair shop and have it replaced, you may have to skip making a payment on your car or walk to work because you don’t have the money to buy gas but you don’t have to ‘Geek’ it and fix the darn thing. Or do you.

You hear horror stories all the time about the computer owner that took his computer to the ‘local’ repair shop and wound up buying a new computer because when he brought it home it was worse than when he took it to the shop. I kid you not, some repair shops have some really good, well trained technicians, and some just hire anyone who sounds like they know what they are doing. (and in this story the only problem with the computer was it had a virus, a nasty one, but none the less it was only a virus!)

The ten top reasons you would repair your own computer or Do It Yourself:

1) You have been through the nightmare before– (Experience)
2) You would rather make a car payment– (Money)
3) You don’t have to wait for someone else to do the job– (Time)
4) You don’t have to take the computer to someone– (Time and Money)
5) You have information on the computer you would not trust to someone else– (Security)
6) You want to learn how to fix computers– (Experience)
7) You know what the problem is just need to know ‘How to do it’– (Time and Money) The closest repair shop is very far away– (Time and Money)
9) You can’t afford to pay someone else– (Money)
10) You blew it up and are embarrassed about what happened– (??)

So why do you Do It Yourself?

Monte Russell with over 20 years experience, AAS degree, MCSE, CNA, A+, and hardware certificates. The free monthly newsletter always intriguing, full of insights about computing at:

http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/newsletter-signup.html For more information about this article:

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The stage has been set. It is now early May, and also the release time of the new ATI GPU’s: The ATI 4800 Series. Expected to be released soon, the excitement is at a record high.

However, recent rumors have come around, and said that ATI is actually using GDDR3 and GDDR5 RAM on their new flag ship 4800 series GPU’s. Although numbers and specs of hardware, especially GPU’s, do not correlate directly to how the GPU will perform, this is an interesting strategy, that may make the difference between victory and failure.

Another interesting part of this whole ATI release is that ATI has decided to completely skip over GDDR4. Why? No one really knows. However, I believe that the reason why they skipped GDDR4 is that their engineers could not come up with a favorable circuit plan to fully and efficiently utilize GDDR4. There may be other reasons, but that’s what I believe.

Furthermore, ATI is also releasing another dual-GPU card. This GPU will be a lot like its predecessor, the ATI 3800 series dual GPU card, but with the RV770 core chip. This will be another massive card, just like its predecessor, and I expect it to perform quite well. Its predecessor scaled very, very well; and since ATI has been improving a lot in every aspect from price-to-performance ratio to raw performance, I expect this new dual-GPU card to be a threat against NVidia’s 9900 series dual-GPU’s.

Now comes the conclusion. What will happen? Well, NVidia will most likely have a hard time going against ATi to say the least. With ATi’s current momentum from its success with the ATI 3850 series GPU’s, ATi has a greater chance of succeeding more than NVidia’s 9900 series GPU’s, and maybe take the crown away from NVidia all together. This will, indeed, be an extremely exciting battle between ATi and NVidia.

To read more computer hardware articles, go to http://www.ImIcarus.com

With today’s constantly advancing technology, the ability to duplicate CD’s and DVD’s in your own home has become fairly easy. Most home printers have the ability to print on CD labels (and some directly on disc) and disc burning software and hardware is also available. However, there are many variables that come into play that will probably make you reconsider doing it yourself.

Quality

The first and most important thing to consider is the quality of your final disc compared to a disc professionally duplicated. Most home printers are inkjet printers which not only take a long time to print but they also use up a lot of ink. Inkjet printers are also not waterproof or UV protected unless you coat the discs yourself. The actual quality of the print itself is another thing to look at. Unless you have incredibly high-grade equipment you will not be able to create the print quality like you would see on your favorite band’s CD if you print the disc yourself. For high quality print you need to print offset or silkscreen or thermal printing. The quality of the disc itself is also an issue. Through your local electronic store you can find many different types of CD’s produced by many different companies. A lot of these are lower quality CD’s but they are popular because they are very cheap when buying in bulk. Most CD duplication companies use higher quality discs for better sound and better playback.

Time

How much is your time worth? CD duplication or DVD duplication is a time consuming process. First you have to get the bulk media and the labels or ink cartridges or whatever you need for printing. Then you need to actually copy your CD or DVD which a standard computer can usually do one or two at a time. Each CD will probably take a few minutes to copy and then another few minutes to print. And that is just for the disc itself, you will also need to design and print the packaging and assemble the whole thing which will also take some extra time. When copying two or three copies for your friends this may not seem like a very big deal but when you need 500 or 1000 copies for music promotion or business promotion, it could take weeks to complete this. A CD duplication company can have 1000 CD’s printed, packaged and retail ready within a few days. You can now use all of that time you would have spent copying and printing CD’s to do something more productive for your band or business.

Price

One last thing you should look at is the price and price differences. To copy CD’s yourself you will probably end up spending about $0.25 to $0.30 each for just the blank CD’s. Then you will probably need an ink cartridge which can run anywhere from $30 to $180 each. Printable CD labels usually go for around $0.50 to $0.75 each (broken down from 20 for like $15). Then you will also need jewel cases which usually run for about $0.40 or $0.50 a piece. Then on top of all that you will still need to print the front inserts and the tray cards which is going to use more paper and more ink. These prices are all taken from random retail stores so you may be able to find a few of these supplies cheaper or more expensive; but through a CD duplication company, you can get 1000 CD’s completely packaged and retail ready for as low as $0.85 per CD and you don’t have to do any work or wait for very long to get your discs.

As you can see, it is possible to do CD duplication or DVD duplication yourself but if you need a couple hundred discs or more you are going to save yourself a lot of time, money and stress by finding a reliable, professional CD duplication company to do the work for you.

Disc2day has a friendly staff and we work hard to make sure you get a quality product in a timely fashion and at the best price in the industry. Check out our website at http://www.disc2day.com for more information about CD duplication or DVD duplication.

The NVidia 9800GX2 has been out for a month or so, and the prices haven’t quite budged- still at a high average price of $539.99, the 9800GX2 is still quite expensive, as I’ve said a few words ago. The 9800GX2 was to be the new “king of the hill” GPU, surpassing the Ultra but still stay at a relatively low price for the performance it provides. One criteria was met, but the other wasn’t: it’s almost as expensive as some low-end NVidia 8800 Ultra’s.

The 9800GX2 outperforms the 8800 Ultra’s, but came with a price tag too large to make it favorable for many aspiring computer builders. Since many new aspiring computer builders often have a low- to mid-range budget, most of us will not have the money to spend 600 dollars on a single component of the computer. If NVidia intended to push away ATi by releasing the 9800GX2 and become more favorable than ATi, NVidia has failed to do so. My first impression upon the release of the 9800GX2 was: “Wow, very nice. You beat your own 8800 Ultra. So what?”. To achive our votes, NVidia should have released the 9800GTX first, which was a better but still somewhat disappointing GPU. The 9800GTX is at a pretty good price right now at the average price of $309.99, and also performs almost as well as the 8800 Ultras.

So, the bottom point: The 9800GX2’s are still not even remotely close to being worth its rediculously high price tag. NVidia should have released the 9800GTX first, then the 9800GX2. Then maybe NVidia would’ve had much more success in the GPU market.

http://www.ImIcarus.com