Computer Hardware - Guide to the PC Hardware

Today when you talk of a PC, you think of the motherboard, You are careful to choose the PC with a reputed motherboard. This is so since motherboard constitutes a very central and crucial part of computers.The motherboard has been an integral part of most personal computers for more than 20 years. Think of a motherboard as a scale model of a futuristic city with many modular plug-in buildings, each using power from a common electrical system. Multiple-lane highways of various widths transport data between the buildings.

The motherboard is the data and power infrastructure for the entire computer. Motherboards are actually a carryover from architecture used for years in mainframe computers. Various circuit cards performing various functions all plug into many similar sockets on a common circuit board. Each circuit card performs a unique function in the computer and gets its power from the socket. Due to improvements in circuitry and packaging, motherboards have essentially stayed the same size or shrunk while their functionality has skyrocketed. The original IBM PC contained the original PC motherboard.

In this design, which premiered in 1982, the motherboard itself was a large printed circuit card that contained the 8088 microprocessor, the BIOS, sockets for the CPU’s RAM and a collection of slots that auxiliary cards could plug into. If you wanted to add a floppy disk drive or a parallel port or a joystick, you bought a separate card and plugged it into one of the slots. This approach was pioneered in the mass market by the Apple II machine. By making it easy to add cards, Apple and IBM accomplished two huge things,namely they made it easy to add new features to the machine over time and they opened the computer to creative opportunities for third-party vendors. Different motherboards of different vintages typically have different form factors. The form factor is essentially the size, shape and design of the actual motherboard. There are more than a half-dozen form factors for motherboards. The motherboard, by enabling pluggable components, allows users to personalize a computer system depending on their applications and needs.

Today several established mother boards are available on demand. ASUS, Intel, Mercury and VIA are some of the motherboards with good market shares. Motherboards today come with built in graphic cards. These are called onboard graphic cards. But one has the option to choose an indepndent high end graphics card. Motherboards come in an fully assembled manner and also in the chipset form. In the fully assembled form, you need only to plug in the components, while in the chipset variey one has to assemble the motherboard itself from scratch. Motherboards contain the BIOS or the Basic Input-Output System which runs the POST (power-on system Test) once you switch on the PC. Unless you choose your motherboard with care, since it is the very foundation of your PC, the system may not perform upto the expected level.Once you have chosen a good motherboard, the task of assembling a PC is half done.

Pkp Iyer, Senior Editor, Excellone Technologies. Excellone Technologies Are Quality Webdesign And Website Development Company From India http://www.Excellone.com

Seamless Plasma Walls were used widely in exhibitions and trade shows all over the world. Seamless plasma screens can be single or multiple panels to fit any application in any shape or size. Most common formats are 2×2, 3×2, 3×3 and 4×4. Best part of seamless plasma is, plasma video wall can be customized up to any size.

Seamless plasma walls are best suited for all kinds of trade shows and exhibition to attract visitor to your booth. These are also ideal for convention centers. Few years back people was using low resolution LED walls with bulky setup but now day’s plasma walls are thin and gives much better display quality (higher resolution) as compare to those past day’s.

Seamless video wall Features:

Brightness: 1000 Cd/mq

Display Size: Any size (Infinitely Expandable Size Using 42)

Contrast: 10000:1

Resolution: upto 1600×1200 (16:9)

Graphics : UXGA, WXGA, SXGA, XGA, SVGA, VGA

Video Standards - NTSC, PAL, SECAM

Integrated Splitter (5×5)

Inputs : 1 x Video (with loop-through)

1 x S-Video (con loop-through)

1 x Component/RGB (480i/p, 576p, 720p, 1080i) (with loop through)

1 x PC (con loop-through)

1 x DVI (con loop-through)

Other : Integrated Splitter (max 5x 5), RS232 (in/out), control software

Video Wall supports all type of input connections include VGA, Component, S-Video, DVI, and Composite.
Video wall plasma displays are great for

• Presentations

• Product demos

• DVD or HDTV

• And must have for Trade Shows

These new Seamless Plasma Display screens give the sleek, new design and functionality of a plasma screen with the abilities of past LED walls.

For more information on Video wall rentals and Audio Visual rentals visit RentFusion.com

External storage devices offer a wide range of solutions to problems facing those who choose to participate in the advances of this age of information. Information! We are constantly inundated by information these days. It forms the basis of our existence both social and professional. It streams to us from all angles. When we step back from this constant inundation for a second we must ask; ‘What do we do with all this information?’

How you process your information is beyond the scope of this article! But what I will offer here are methods to keep your information ordered, accessible, and safe so that you can work with it under the best possible circumstances.

An external hard drive is a storage system for your computer data. Often taking the form of a compact box, they are connected to a computer via a cable (probably USB or firewire) and have the capability of storing anything from 1 Gigabyte to 1 Terabyte of information. If you have utilized an external storage device you probably find it useful under many circumstances.

Backup

Storing your information on an external hard drive solves several problems. First of all it eliminates the possibility of losing your data in the event of your computer crashing be it due to a virus attack or mechanical malfunction. It is common practice for individuals involved in IT to create a copy of the entire extent of their data onto an external drive. This saves them from the disastrous possibility of losing all their work and therefore their profits if their system crashes. Storing to an external hard drive means that the data physically exists outside of your computer system so if you find your computer in an inoperable state the external drive can be plugged into another computer to retrieve your data. This brings us to another feature of external drives which is that of transferability. Through external drives it is possible to access your data on other computers which is great for easily transferring your data to work colleagues or a friend computer.

Protection

If you have sensitive information you can store it on a hard disk which will prevent it from being accessible to hackers over the internet. Simply store your important data on the external drive, wipe it from your main system and then unplug the external drive. This way it is impossible for your data to be accessed by would be thieves over the internet.

Extra Space

If you’ve downloaded too many big files (movies, music etc.) and find your computer running out of space and consequently slowing down, store your data on the external drive to free up disk space on your computer. Not only does this free up space and speed up your computer but it can also allow you to organize your data. For example you could have one external drive for Music, one for business data, one for personal data and so on.

Owning an external storage device is very useful in many ways. In the years to come it will become almost inevitable for anyone to escape the invasion of external storage devices, they are now in the form of keychains. You can use a small 8GB USB drive to store a large amount of data. You can simply bring your office work home and easily carry it on a keychain. School kids can have homework assignments given to them on a keychain using an external storage device, allowing students to abandon their bulky backpacks and school books. Imagine go to your local video rental store and picking the latest movie release on an external storage device. The use for external storage devices is endless. However you spin it, one thing is for certain “external storage devices” will be a part of your life!

Ant Onaf is a content producer in association with RemoteGurus.com (http://www.remotegurus.com) a freelance job board for freelance programmers, writers, web developers, etc. He is also associated with Rooket.com an online discount retailer who sells 500GB external hard drives.

The computers are being used extensively by the human beings for the purpose of entertainment and complex processing. In the age of technology when we all are living closely computerized lives, it’s hard to imagine any place or household without a computer. These machines are equipped with advanced electronic components and devices with which they help us do various processing with great ease.

Random Access Memory is more commonly known as RAM. This is the temporary memory in the system and is used to store the data or information for the short span of time while the processing is carried on. RAM is an integrated circuit chip which is fixed on the mother board of the system. It is an important and integral part of the computers.

It is used to store data. Unlike other storage mediums like the magnetic tapes and optical disks, in the Ram data can be accessed in random order. Any datum can be easily retrieved withing specified amount of time irrespective of the storage location of the data. It does not matter whether the present data which is being accessed is related or linked to the previously accessed data. This kind of memory is generally volatile and the information is retained in the memory only till the power is switched on. As soon as the power is turned off the information is lost.

There are several variations present of the random access memory like SDRAM, DRAM, SRAM, RDRAM and DDR SDRAM etc.

The SRAM stands for the static RAM and DRAM stands for the dynamic RAM. The Static RAM is a kind of semiconductor memory in which the data is not refreshed after a small period of time and it uses a bistable latching circuitry in which the bits are stored. The data retention is exhibited by this kind of RAM but is not nonvolatile as the data is lost when the power is switched off.

The performance of the system depends largely upon the storage capacity of the RAM. Higher the memory of the system better is its performance. In most of the computers one would find 256 MB or higher memory capacity. To run heavy applications like 3-D games and Drawing tools, System development kits with higher configuration and enhanced RAM are required.

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Computers are used for varied purposes now a day and therefore the need of different storage devices has emerged. The storage controller plays an important role in overall storage system in a computer. It is basically a set of components that enables the users to store different programs and data on their computers.

Two types of hardware are found in the storage system of these electronic devices. They are the hard drives and the external hard disks. The second type of devices includes CD-ROM, CD-RW or DVD disk drives. The pen-drive and data card are also used for storing files and folders these days. An interface is provided in the PC through which an internal communication channel works between these devices and different programs of the computer.

One of the most important characteristics of the storage controller is its capacity. The storage capacity is the factor that attracts the customers. The system with a 2 GB hard disk can be used for office works and internet surfing. Another important characteristic is the performance of the devices that are used in the computer. The storage devices are relatively slower than the electronic components of the system. The components like CPU and motherboard are much faster.

Flexibility is another factor that decides the success of any storage gadget. One can find a lot of devices that provide support for multi format files like audio, video, digital, etc. The combo CD/DVD drives are available in the markets that are gaining popularity. The latest computers and laptops are loaded with the hard disks of up to 160 GB capacity. The option of adding external hard drives is also given to the users so that they could increase the overall memory capacity of their computers.

Some of the other types of storage controller devices are floppy disk controller, SCSI controller, USB controller, etc. The Universal Serial Bus (USB) port is given in the computers and laptops these days. One needs to insert the USB device in the port so that he or she could transfer any kind of data from the PC and vice-versa.

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Fiber optic cables are exposed to electrical, mechanical, chemical and environmental elements, so proper installation is critical for the long-term stability and survival of fiber cables.

Cable installation must also meet the NEC(National Electric Code) and local building codes. NEC indicates that fiber optic cables can be placed in the same raceway, cable tray or enclosure with CATV, telephone, communication circuits and Class 2 and 3 remote control signaling circuits.

Note that you should never put the fiber optic cable in the same enclosure that houses electrical terminations.

What are conduits?

Conduit is a tube or trough for protecting electrical or communication wires and cables. It may be a solid or flexible tube in which cables are run. They house and protect the fiber optic cables as well as any other type of data or communication transmission line.

Underground conduits are also called ducts and consist of one or more conduits spaced closely together. They are often buried directly in the ground in concrete casing. Duct lines terminate in underground vaults called manholes. Conduits are made of fiber, PVC, PE and other materials.

Above ground conduits are made of metal or nonmetal materials. They can be used in exposed or concealed locations aboveground.

Characteristics of a good conduit installation

1.Good mechanical properties to withstand the forces imposed by cable installations

2.Observes fiber optic cables minimum bending radius

3.No sharp edges or bends touches the fiber optic cables throughout the route

4.Meets current and future expansion requirements

What are cable trays?

A cable tray is an assembly of units made of metal or other noncombustible materials that form a continuous, rigid support for fiber cables. Cable trays are used throughout the industry and they greatly simplify the installation of fiber optic cables.

Cable trays come in several different types including ladder type, trough type, channel type and solid-bottom type.

Ladder type cable tray is a metal structure consisting of two longitudinal side rails connected by individual transverse members. The transverse members provide the support for fiber cables.

Trough type cable tray is also a metal structure. It consists of a ventilated bottom and has closely spaced supports within integral or separate longitudinal side rails.

Channel type cable tray consists of a one-piece ventilated or solid-bottom channel section.

Solid-bottom type cable tray is a metal structure that has no openings in the bottom. Integral or separate longitudinal side rails provide the support for the fiber cables.

What are pull boxes?

Pull boxes are used to break up long conduit lengths for easier and lower tension cable pulls.

Pull boxes are usually placed near conduit bends and in long straight runs. You should use at least one pull box after every second 90° bend and in long conduit spans.

When pulling cable out of pull boxes, ensure that the cable’s minimum bend radius is always observed. Cable pulled through a corner pull box should first be pulled into a loop since the sharp corner of the pull box can easily damage the cable and the fibers.

Colin Yao is an expert on fiber optic communication technologies and products. Learn more about aerial fiber cable, optic cable aerial, aerial fiber optic cable on Fiber Optics For Sale Co. web site.

Understanding The Basic Terms

1. Dead end pole: Dead end pole is a utility pole on which self-supporting figure 8 aerial cable or a steel messenger is tensioned and terminated into a dead-end fixture. 
2. Messenger span: Messenger span refers to the length of continuous steel messenger tensioned between two dead-end poles. 
3. Intermediate poles: Intermediate poles are all the poles between two dead-end poles. 

Planning

1. Careful planning and preparation are necessary before any aerial cable installations. During the cable route survey, representatives from all necessary parties including utilities, street depart, etc should be present. Before even detailed planning begins, approval should be get from all involved parties. Sufficient clearance for new cable along the right of way should be confirmed during the route survey. 
2. Existing poles should be used whenever possible in order to save cost. 
3. Where on a pole to place the aerial fiber optic cable? Fiber optic cables weigh less than equivalent copper cables and also sag less, so fiber optic cables should occupy the uppermost available communications space on a pole. 
4. Sufficient clearances must be maintained between fiber optic cables and electrical power cables on joint-use poles. You need to refer to current National Electrical Safety Code for the proper clearances. 
5. Existing dead-end pole must be evaluated to see whether they can withstand the stresses during aerial cable installation. You have to evaluate whether temporary guying is needed in order to relieve the temporary unbalanced loading during cable installation. 
6. Splice locations. Splice locations are usually selected during the cable route survey. They are chosen to allow for the longest possible continuous cable spans and a minimum number of splices. They should be easily accessible to a splicing vehicle. 
7. Aerial installation should never be done in wet conditions. And make sure all personnel are properly trained for pole line work.
8. Fiber optic cables (including all dielectric cables) should be properly grounded when installed in the vicinity of high-voltage power cables. 

Installation:

Fiber optic cable aerial installation can be done in two ways

Lashing a fiber optic cable to a steel messenger

A steel messenger is first installed between the poles. Then a cable reel trailer and truck are used to pull the cable along the messenger. A cable guide and cable lasher are used to wrap around both the messenger and the fiber cable to secure the fiber cable to the messenger. Following the cable lasher is an aerial bucket truck which makes necessary adjustments.

At each pole, the fiber optic cable forms an expansion loop to allow for expansion of the messenger. The expansion loop’s sizes have both a length and a depth, its length should be larger than twice its depth. The fiber cable should also maintain its minimum bending radius at all times.

Direct installation of self-supporting figure 8 aerial fiber optic cables

Self-supporting (Figure-8) optical fiber cables greatly simplifies the task of placing fiber optic cables onto a aerial plant. The self-supporting figure-8 cable incorporates both a steel messenger and the fiber cable into a single jacket of Figure-8 cross section.

The combination of strand and optical fiber into a single cable allows rapid one-step installation and results in a more durable aerial plant.

Colin Yao is an expert on fiber optic communication technologies and products. Learn more about loose tube cable, loose tube fiber cable and loose tube fiber optic cable on Fiber Optics For Sale Co. web site.