How to Install a 3 Port Ieee 1394 Card

Many new devices are constantly being created that require fast connections and power from your personal computer (PC). While the universal serial bus (USB) is fast and more commonly used, the 1394 FireWire card is even faster and runs a larger amount of industrial peripherals for your PC. Like most adapter slots, most computers do not come with enough, making it convenient to install an additional 1394 card to your PC.

1). Turn your PC off.

2). Unplug the power supply of your PC.

3). Remove the case of your desktop PC. (As cases vary, consult your user manual if you have difficulties.)

4). Locate an open PCI Express slot.

5). Unscrew and remove the faceplate that corresponds with the PCI Express slot you wish to use.

6). While holding your screwdriver and nothing else, touch a large metal object with the screwdriver to discharge any static electricity.

7). Slide the 1394 FireWire card into the PCI Express slot until you hear a small plastic click. The connections need to face the back of the computer and the chips need to face the top of the computer. Don't worry too much because there is only one way to fit the card in.

8). Take the screw from the faceplate and use it to secure the 1394 card to the PC.

9). Replace the computer case.

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Visual Display Unit Characteristics

 Computers are a common part of the lives of most individuals. However, like the operation of many household appliances, computer desktop owners do not normally comprehend how their devices work. Visual display units or VDUs, are the monitor part of a desktop computer, which allow users to see the information they work with.

Types

Three types of computer monitorsor visual display units are available. These are the LCD flat panel, the CRT or cathode ray tube monitor and the TFT-LCD monitor. CRT VDUs are enclosed in a large box-shaped casing and represent the older types of computer monitors that exist today. LCD, liquid crystal, monitors are flatscreen, thin visual display units that take up much less space than CRTs. In addition, the LCDs come in widescreen as well as standard screen models and can be designed with add-ons, such as Super Video Graphic Display Array and Digital Video Interface technologies. TFT-LCD monitors are thin film transistor monitors.

Operation

An electronic beam within the visual display unit consistently scans the screen and collects data from the memory. Display memory is then transferred into video signals and in turn, the video signals manipulate the electronic beam, affecting what is shown on the display. This type of scan is known as a Raster scan. Once the electronic beam has been altered, that beam focuses on the phosphorous material that coats the inside of the visual display unit, causing the screen to illuminate.

Magnetic Fields

All electronic devices emit magnetic and electrical fields to some degree. Older visual display units that contain tubes inside the display screen have higher magnetic fields than flatscreen display units. Additionally, display units with internal tubes also emit low-intensity X-rays and non-ionizing radiation. Yet the radiation is quite minimal and not considered a health risk. Flatscreen display units, on the other hand, have no internal tubes and emit zero X-rays or radiation.

Sizes

Visual display units come in a variety of sizes. Monitors are available in 15-inch, 17-inch, 19-inch and 21-inch styles. The size of the monitor is the size of the screen, not the size of the entire monitor. Fifteen-inch monitors are sufficient for casual computer users, while 17-inch screens are more acceptable for individuals that use their computers frequently. The 19-inch and 21-inch monitors, on the other hand, were created for individuals who use their computers for design and editing.

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Vesa VGA Connector

What Is a Vesa VGA Connector?

Cable clutter is a problem that can be frustrating and counterproductive when setting up a workspace. The VESA connector attempts to solve this problem by combining many different signals into one wire.

Background

1). VESA is an acronym for the Video Electronics Standards Association, which sets standards for PC and computing environments. The VESA connector is capable of incorporating video, audio, printer, Firewire and USB connections into one wire.

Central Connection Point

2). The monitor acts as the hub for all incoming hardware connections such as the mouse, keyboard and printer. The VESA connector directly connects the monitor to the PC hardware via a 34-pin MicroCross Molex pin and socket on both sides of the wire. This essentially eliminates the need to connect each individual device to the PC directly.

Evolution

3. The VESA connector was later renamed the VESA plug and display connector. Eventually, DVI replaced the VESA connector due to its ability to support high bandwidth and enforce digital content protection.

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Choose a Desktop Computer

Shopping for a computer doesn't need to be hard. First think about what you need. Are you looking for a computer to perform basic tasks or to meet special requirements? Then do a little homework, and finally go shopping armed with that knowledge. You'll get a computer you can be happy with, and you'll get the best value for your money.

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7200 RPM Notebook Hard Drives

7200 RPM Notebook Hard Drives

Five hundred, 640 and now 750 GB. Three quarters of a terabyte are now available at the most important 9.5 mm height on the 2.5” format. This is the form factor that is utilized in more than 95% of all laptop and notebook designs, including most netbooks. The latest 7200 RPM drives from Samsung, Seagate and Western Digital.

With the entire buzz in storage gravitating around SSDs, everything seems to be quiet in the hard drive space. While solid state drives have, in fact, long overtaken hard drives in terms of high performance and low power consumption, mainstream buyers are still a long ways away from swapping over to large SSDs. The cost per gigabyte is simply too high still. Moreover, they do not provide sufficient storage capacity for consumers (or at least for what consumers many times believe they should be able to store). The truth is that 500 gigabytes look far better than 64 or 128 GB to folks who think they have, or will have, gobs of digital data. But the truth is also that a notebook with a hard drive may very well provide sufficient performance for non-enthusiasts.

Making that choice always requires a balance between what you need and, more importantly, what you expect. More folks are familiar with common performance limiters, like insufficient memory, too-slow of a CPU, or an inadequate graphics processor. The issue of limited hard drive performance is less-easily diagnosed. But once you spend some time on a system armed with an SSD, you won't want to switch back to mechanical storage. Unfortunately, this remains but a wish for many folks, as price tags are great for forcing us back to earth.

In this light, conventional notebook hard drives that spin at 7200 RPM are still quite a good choice, as the throughput of almost 120 MB/s (~60 MB/s minimum) is not bad in the greater scheme of things. As long as you have a decent amount of system memory (4 GB or more nowadays), the number of heavy-use situations where a hard drive limits performance should be kept to a minimum. And in exchange, you get access to a lot more free space: 500, 640, or 750 GB on the latest product generation.

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How to Convert Headphone Mono Jacks to USB for VoIP

How to Convert Headphone Mono Jacks to USB for VoIP

When setting up a pair of headphones or speakers with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or other audio applications, you typically insert the audio plug connected to the speakers into a compatible port on the computer. You can also use the USB port, but you must convert the audio signal streaming through the USB port into the headset using a mono audio adapter.

1). Plug the USB connector on the USB Mono Audio Adapter into the computer's USB port.

2). Insert the audio cable of the headphone or speaker into the "Audio Out" port on the USB Mono Audio Adapter. This port may have a headphone logo right next to it.

3). Turn up the volume on your headset or speakers. All speakers have a volume dial. Some headsets and USB Mono Audio Adapters also have volume keys.

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Uses of a Desktop Computer

Uses of a Desktop Computer

In 2011, desktop computers are used for a variety of purposes, including graphic design, data entry, research and gaming. Whether you're in an office or at home, you've likely encountered the personal computer that sits atop many desks.

Graphic Design

Desktop computers are widely used in the graphic design industry. By using various computer software programs, including InDesign, Photoshop and Quark XPress, graphic designers spend much of their creative time in front of a desktop computer. Connected to a keyboard and mouse, desktop computers enable graphic designers to create many items, including advertisements, logos, brochures and pamphlets.

Internet

Accessing the Internet is also a common use for a desktop computer. While many handheld computing devices also provide Web access, desktop computers offer a view of Web content on a larger screen and provide easier maneuverability. Using a computer to access the Internet enables users to perform many tasks, including viewing streaming video, sending and receive email, playing games and doing research. Most newspapers, radio stations and television networks offer online material, including news, weather and sports content. You can even order food using a desktop computer, whether it's from a restaurant or online grocer.

Gaming

Playing video games is another use that has come with the progression of the desktop computer. Many games are designed to be loaded and played directly on a computer, while others require logging on to the Internet. In either case, a desktop computer facilitates the gaming experience. If playing online, gamers can play against other computer users throughout the world, via the Internet. If casino-style gaming is more to your liking, a desktop computer can help you do that as well.

Business and Finance

Most offices have desktop computers that provide workers with tools and a means to complete job-related tasks. Data-entry personnel use them to input company and client information while doctor's office workers use them to keep tabs on appointments, patient contact and medical information. Writers use desktop computers to conduct research and write while customer service workers use them to keep notes and enter payment information.

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How to Use Your PS3 Controller

How to Use Your PS3 Controller 

Requirements:

PS3 wireless controller (SIXAXIS)

USB cable Windows XP or higher                                                           

1.      Download the file from Sony drivers’ website and save it to your desktop.

2.      Unzip the file.

3.      Connect the PS3 controller to the computer using a USB cable. Check the lights on the controller. It should be blinking

4.      Now go to the “Control Panel” from the Start menu and select on “Systems”.

5.      Click on the tab “Hardware”. Under “Hardware” tab, select Device Manager.

6.      Click Human Interface Devices in the device manager screen. Underneath will appear the option USB Human Interface Device. Right click on this and select the option “Update Driver”.

 7.      Click on Install from a list or specific location in the pop-up window. Select the option “Don't search I will choose...” on the next screen. Click Next.

8.      Click “Have disk” on the next screen and then choose browse and select Desktop. From there, click ds3 drivers and choose ds3drv1.02. Click through until you get to the file beginning Dual shock. Open this and install the file.

9.      Go back to the control panel and click on Game Controllers. Select Playstation 3 Controller and then go to Properties. Press the Home button in the middle of the playstation controller. You should then see the cursor in the box to the left of the window respond to your joystick when you move it.

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How to Install an ATI Radeon Video Card

How to Install an ATI Radeon Video Card

ATI Radeon video cards are high end dedicated graphics cards produced by AMD (Advanced Micro Devices). ATI Radeon cards are used primarily for computer gaming and playing HD video, as many cards have HDMI and DVI ports to connect to HDTVs. To install an ATI Radeon card, a computer must have a PCI express slot, and the appropriate power connector for the card.

 

To install the ATI Radeon Video Card, follow the below steps:

1. Turn off the computer and unplug all the cords.

2. Open the case by unscrewing the screws on the right hand side of the case. This will release the side panel covering the motherboard.

3. Locate a PCI express slot. This slot is longer than the other expansion slots (PCI and AGP slots), Some motherboards have two PCI express slots.

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How to Check Network or Wireless Adapter Driver Status in Windows 7

Its is advised to check network or wireless adapter driver status in Windows 7 after installing the driver in order to make sure it works well before trying to connect to wired or wireless network. This avoids facing network connectivity problem due to incorrect or problematic driver.

To check Network or Wireless Adapter Driver Status

1)    Go to Start and click on Control Panel.

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How to install and Setup a SATA Hard Drive

This article will show you how to install and setup a SATA Hard Drive without any hassle

This article is applicable for Windows 7, Vista and Windows XP.

Warning

Always remember to discharge yourself before touching the HDD. This is done by touching the metal inside the case with you hands, as showed in the picture below

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Different Types of Computer Processors

Different Types of Computer Processors

Traditionally computer processor design and innovation has advanced at an exceedingly fast rate. As a corollary, the market for computer processors is vast and often times confusing to a first time explorer. However, learning the key feature sets and functions that set each processor apart from one another is not very difficult at all.

Brands

Since the inception of mainstream computing into the homes of society, but there has been consumer and commercial level computer processor manufacturers. The Intel Corporation is undoubtedly the first name when any consumer thinks of the word processor is mentioned. Intel has been producing the most top-line computer processors for several decades now. AMD or Advanced Micro Devices is Intel's only true competitor in the computer processor market producing computer processors, which rival the speed and power of Intel's.

Architecture

When considering the architecture of a computer processor, there are really only a few key factors to consider. Whether the processor has a 32-bit or 64-bit core determines whether or not the processor can run your software correctly. The amount of on die processor cache memory is also of importance, as this integrated memory space is where processor instructions are held before execution. Finally, is the system a single, dual or quad core processor? While multicore processors do have their advantages there is still a lack of software able to utilize multicore processors.

Clock Speed

The clock speed of a computer processor determines the rate at which a processor executes instructions on data. Today this rate of execution is expressed in billions of instructions per second. Though having a computer processor with a high clock speed is advantageous, it alone is not the only factor that dictates overall system performance. Higher clock speeds increase all system tasks, such as web browsing, movie encoding, and system utilities like anti-virus software.

Maintenance

Computer processors must be maintained according to their manufacturer's specifications in order to perform at their full potential. All too often consumers will pick an expensive cutting edge processor while neglecting support hardware for their processor. Different processors require different power supplies, proper heat sink/ fan combos, and adequate memory in order to function correctly. Above all, different processors require different cooling solutions. Each processor has its own TDP (Thermal Design Power) which is an indication of heat output which must be dissipated.

Current Models

The most recent offerings from Intel and AMD are the Core i7 quad core and Phenom II quad core processors respectively. The Core i7 supersedes the Core 2 series of dual and quad core Intel processors and the Phenom II supersedes the Phenom I dual and quad core model AMD processors. Outside of extreme gaming or high-end 3D graphics applications, even the Phenom II and Core 2 older model processors are more than adequate for the home user and come at a much lower price point in most cases.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of External hard disk drives

Advantages and Disadvantages of External hard disk drives

External drives are arguably the biggest growth area in data storage of recent times. They offer the possibility of a readily transportable repository for all a user’s valuable data, documents, photographs, music and movies. Alternatively they can provide a destination for a user to backup their valued files to, in case the data held on their internal storage is lost, or the internal storage fails. But are they lulling users into a false sense of security?

They are being offered with ever increasing capacity and at ever decreasing prices. Many are advertised using ‘pence per Gigabyte’ prices as a lure. However a few notes of caution arise from the recent spate of external hard drives being sent for Data Recovery.

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Types of Computer Hard Disks

Hard disk types

A hard disk drive (hard disk/hard drive/HDD) is a non-volatile storage device for digital data. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data are encoded magnetically by read/write heads that float on a cushion of air above the platters.

Hard disk manufacturers quote disk capacity in SI-standard powers of 1000, wherein a terabyte is 1000 gigabytes and a gigabyte is 1000 megabytes. With file systems that report capacity in powers of 1024, available space appears somewhat less than advertised capacity.

The first HDD was invented by IBM in 1956. They have fallen in cost and physical size over the years while dramatically increasing capacity. Hard disk drives have been the dominant device for secondary storage of data in general purpose computers since the early 1960s.[5] They have maintained this position because advances in their areal recording density have kept pace with the requirements for secondary storage.[5] Form factors have also evolved over time from great standalone boxes to today's desktop systems mainly with standardized 3.5-inch form factor drives, and mobile systems mainly using 2.5-inch drives. Today's HDDs operate on high-speed serial interfaces; i.e., serial ATA (SATA) or serial attached SCSI (SAS).

1. IDE: Integrated Drive Electronics. IDE drives are also known as PATA drives (Parallel advance technology attachment)

2. SATA: Serial advance technology attachment

3. SCSI: Small Computer System Interface. SCSI is pronounced as skuzzy.

4. SAS: Serial Attached SCSI

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Computer Power Supply

Computer Power Supply

If there is any one component that is absolutely important to the operation of a computer, it is the power supply. Without power supply, a computer is just an inert box full of plastic and metal. The power supply converts the alternating current (AC) line from your home to the direct current (DC) needed by the personal computer. In this article, we'll learn how PC power supplies work and what the wattage ratings mean.

In a personal computer (PC), the power supply is the metal box usually found in a corner of the case. The power supply is visible from the back of many systems (Also known as SMPS) because it contains the power-cord receptacle and the cooling fan.

Power supplies, often referred to as "switching power supplies", use switcher technology to convert the AC input to lower DC voltages. The typical voltages supplied are:

• 3.3 volts

• 5 volts

• 12 volts

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Northbridge v/s Southbridge

Northbridge v/s Southbridge

Northbridge:

The Northbridge is one of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a PC motherboard, the other being the Southbridge. In Intel chipset systems it is named memory controller hub (MCH) or integrated memory controller (IMCH) if equipped with an integrated VGA.

Separating the chipset into the Northbridge and Southbridge is common, although there are rare instances where these two chips have been combined onto one die when design complexity and fabrication processes permit it.

The Northbridge typically handles communications among the CPU, RAM, BIOS ROM, and PCI Express (or AGP) video cards, and the Southbridge.[1][2] Some north bridges also contain integrated video controllers, also known as a Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) in Intel systems. Because different processors and RAM require different signaling, a Northbridge will typically work with only one or two classes of CPUs and generally only one type of RAM.

There are a few chipsets that support two types of RAM (generally these are available when there is a shift to a new standard). For example, the Northbridge from the Nvidia nForce2 chipset will only work with Socket A processors combined with DDR SDRAM, the Intel i875 chipset will only work with systems using Pentium 4 processors or Celeron processors that have a clock speed greater than 1.3 GHz and utilize DDR SDRAM, and the Intel i915g chipset only works with the Intel Pentium 4 and the Celeron, but it can use DDR or DDR2 memory.

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How to install Gforce Nvidia Gaming Adapter

How to install Gforce Nvidia Gaming Adapter

The NVIDIA® GeForce offers a powerfully immersive entertainment experience designed for extreme high-definition gaming and video playback. Play the hottest DirectX 10 games with very high speed and watch the latest HD DVD and Blu-ray movies with brilliant clarity. Featuring next generation GeForce and PureVideo® HD technologies, the GeForce puts amazing graphics performance within your reach.

HD Gaming for the Masses

Get the most graphics bang for your buck with a GeForce. With a 90% performance increase over the comparable 8 series graphics card, PC gamers everywhere can now enjoy games at extreme HD resolutions without breaking their wallets.

Features:

NVIDIA SLI® Technology1: Delivers up to 2x the performance of a single GPU configuration for unequaled gaming experiences by allowing two graphics cards to run in parallel. The must-have feature for performance PCI Express® graphics, SLI dramatically scales performance on today’s hottest games.

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Printer goes offline on reboot

On reboot computer, the printer in Windows 7 XP mode goes offline

1). In Control Panel, Printers, delete offline printers. If they wont delete, it may be because there are pending print jobs in the queue. Open the printer and Cancel the jobs..

 

2). In Printer properties, Ports tab, delete the previously installed printers (offline status) that appear as Client Side Rendering Provider under the Description column.

To do this, highlight the port, then click on Delete Port button. Click Apply.

3). Restart your PC.

4). Now reinstall the printers as follows:

         1). Open Control panel, Printers, and click Add a printer.

         2). Click Add a local printer.

         3). Select the "Use an existing port" radio button, and select LPT1: (Printer Port). Click Next.

        4). Install the printer driver. Mine were found in the list inlcuded with Vista. Select the manufacturer and the printer. Click Next.

          5). In the next window, accept the printer name or type in a new name. Leave the "Set as default printer" box unchecked. Click Next.

5). Vista should now install the printer. A window should open saying "You've successfully added printer name.

6). DO NOT Print a test page at this time, because nothing is connected to the LPT1 port on the laptop. Just press Finish. The printer you just added should appear in the Printers window.

7). Click ONCE on the newly added printer to highlight it, then right-click and open Properties.

8). On the Ports tab, click Add Port “select Local Port, then click New Port”

9). When the Port Name window open, Enter a port name as follows: \computername\printername (replace computername with the name of your PC acting as print server, and printername with the name of your printer). Click OK.

10). You should now have a new port listed on the Ports tab of the printer Properties, but now the Description should be Local Port, instead of Client Side Rendering Provider. Click OK.

11). Now you can go to the General tab, and Print a Test Page.

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RAM Failure

RAM Failure

Summary: -

If you see random application crashes, kernel panics, and failures in simple programs that have worked for a long time, it is possible you are experiencing RAM failure. 

Symptoms: -

When RAM starts going bad, what you write to an address is not what you get back when you read it later. This causes random corruption of data, programs that crash, and even kernel "oops"es and kernel panics. If it's only a small amount of RAM that is corrupt then few programs will fail, but something will eventually fail when that memory gets used.

Some kernel panics may bring the system to a halt. If they reoccur soon after the system is off for a while you can be more confident it isn't a heat-related issue.

Even small programs may fail if they happen to use the affected memory. If they work once but then fail on a different attempt, this can be a sign of memory failure, since the memory used will be different from run to run.

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Computer POST / beep codes

Computer POST / beep codes

AMI BIOS beep codes:

Below are the AMI BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.

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