Upgrading Your PC for Non-experts
April 1, 2008
Intro
One of the big advantages of PCs over earlier types of computers is that they’re upgradable. If you get to the point where you need a faster computer, more storage space or whatever, you don’t have to buy a new PC. You can upgrade it by buying just the extra part you need. But sometimes it’s better to just take the plunge and replace it? and how do you know what part to upgrade? Here’s my guide:
Memory
Adding memory is one of the most popular upgrades. It makes a big difference to how fast your PC runs. When your PC runs out of memory for what it’s doing, it stores information on your hard drive instead. Your hard drive is nowhere near as fast as the memory. The more memory you’ve got, the less often your PC will need to store things on the hard drive as it works. So the faster it will go.
How much memory is enough does depend on what version of Windows you’re running. With Windows XP, 256MB is considered a bit on the low side, though it’ll be just about OK. 512MB is decent and 1024MB is really good. If you have Windows 95 or 98, you can get by on 64MB though it’s worth going to 128MB even if you just use your PC for basic office work. More will make it really hum along.
Five Simple Steps to Speed up Your Computer
March 30, 2008
Most people download and save so much information on their computer that before long the computer starts slowing down and the user has no idea what the problem is. However, even if you are not a computer whiz there are several things you can easily do to speed up your computer quickly and easily.
Tip #1 Defrag
One of the first things you should do if you want to speed up your computer is to defrag. This is something you can easily do and a wizard on your computer will help you defrag. You might want to do it overnight, however, because it can take a long time.
Tip #2 Spyware Remover
Download a good spyware remover. Most computers have a lot of spyware running in the background, stealing information and slowing down your computer. Remove it frequently if possible.
Tip #3 Empty Temp Internet Files
Most Internet browsers save your last visited web pages for up to 30 days. If you don’t want all of those pages saved then change the days to one or two, or none, whatever meets your needs.
Tip #4 Turn off Active Desktop
Why Build Your Own Computer System
March 29, 2008
Have you ever thought about building your own computer system? Maybe you’ve heard friends talking about doing this sort of thing, but you were never sure what was involved. This article attempts to answer two questions. First, why would you want to build your own computer system? Secondly, how hard is it to do this?
Why Build a Computer System
First we will look at why you would want to build a computer system. There are three main reasons often cited for building a computer system. The first is that it will save you a great deal of money. The second is that you will get exactly the computer system that you want. And finally, the third reason is that you can easily repair the system if anything goes wrong.
Building a computer to save money is most likely not a realistic goal. These days you can get some really inexpensive computer systems. With complete systems selling for under $500, it would be hard to build a computer system yourself that is going to beat that price by much.
What?s the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?
March 26, 2008
Plasma and LCD TVs are the latest trend in home entertainment. Both offer unrivalled picture quality and resolution, while doing away with the bulkiness of the older rear-projection technologies. But with all of the hype surrounding these two types of televisions, what is the difference between them? Although they look- and are virtually priced- the same, they are not.
There differences are found in the way in which they display their pictures. Plasma TV technology is made up of hundreds of thousands of little pixels, each capable of displaying red, green, and blue colors. A plasma monitor often consists of two panels, which are filled with an inert gas, such as xenon or neon. When the pixels are excited by pulses of electricity, the gas becomes liquid, thus generating light. This light in turn then illuminates the pixels, causing them to display the appropriate color to form a picture.
LCD panels function in a very similar manner. A panel of thin-film-transmitters, or TFT, sends electricity to cells filled with liquid crystal. When the cells are struck by the electricity, the liquid crystals allow light to filter through. Unlike the pixels found in plasma TVs, LCD monitors create color by blocking out the appropriate wavelengths from white light.
The Benefits of Open Source
March 25, 2008
If you are a building a website or a forum, chances are you are using a web editor or paying for message board services. The costs of using these “out of the box” products can add up, especially if you are trying to grow your business. Let’s look at some good “open source” options for you to consider. You may be surprised at how much money open source can save you.
What is open source? The webopedia describes it as follows: Generically, open source refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, i.e., open. Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community. Open source sprouted in the technological community as a response to proprietary software owned by corporations.
Not all open source programs are worth downloading, but there are a few that merit further attention, including:
How to Buy a Plasma Television Set
March 23, 2008
Most people think that all you have to do to purchase a new plasma television set is to walk into a shop, look around, and purchase the first set that catches your attention. This is how you’re supposed to do it, right? Wrong! Buying a television, whether it has a plasma monitor or a LCD monitor, takes careful planning.
The first step in finding your dream plasma television set is to measure the space where you plan to put it. This will help you to decide which size set to buy and will also help to guide your budget. Remember to measure your car, too- there’s nothing more frustrating than picking out and purchasing that perfect plasma television set, if you can’t fit it into the car to get it home!
If you’re going to splash out and completely redecorate your home entertainment room, you should think about contacting a home installer, to get some tips and ideas before contracting the work. Remember to take into consideration things which might affect your view of the TV, such as lighting, windows, and other parts of the room which could possibly cause a reflection or obstruction of the display.
Keeping the Windows Registry Operational
March 20, 2008
The registry is where the computer stores information about the configuration of the system and the programs installed so that the operating system can use them.
Regularly maintaining the registry is a basic requirement. Fixing problems after they occur is harder than preventing them in the first place. Windows registry problems can cause crashes, slow performance and error messages.
If you:
- Install or uninstall software on a regular basis
- have not removed software correctly
- have embedded Spyware or any third party programs that start up again with each boot [whether you installed them or not]
- have installed or uninstalled hardware
- you have drivers on your system that are no longer needed.
Then you absolutely need to be cleaning your windows registry regularly! All the above leave trace elements of themselves behind that build up over time and choke the registry. Think of it as like dusting. Don’t dust and you end up with dust bunnies, allergies and sneezing; you don’t feel well and you slow down… Get the picture?
Get Ahead When You Build Your Own Computer
March 19, 2008
If you’ve been kicking around the idea of building your own computer, it actually isn’t a bad idea. It’s easier than you might think, and you can probably come out with a system that gives you more kick for your money, than you’d see in retail, or those made-to-order places. There are mainly two ways you’re going to see the benefits here:
1. You can see the money you’re going to save on this right up front. Just do a search on Cnet.com under "Compare Prices" for any random PC component you see in the stores, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. In most cases, you’ll cut out the full-retail markup, and then some. You’ll find brand new, sealed, in-box items lower online than you’ll ever find in any store.
2. The quality of the parts you’re getting is much better than what they put in pre-assembled, store-bought computers. You’ll know which brands mean quality. You could have a Creative sound card and a video card made by ATI or nVidia; the price difference is negligible, and we’re dealing with quality and performance standards that dwarf any no-name components they put in store bought systems, so they can keep their costs down. Many times, computer manufacturers like just use a cheap motherboard that has everything, your sound, video, etc., integrated into it; you get a third-rate version of everything.
How To Speed Up Your Aging PC And Make It Healthier Too
March 17, 2008
With a little tweaking and with proper tools, you can get a faster, healthier PC, virtually immune to spyware infections and browser hijackers. How is this possible? Find out about the latest tools and how they work.
System LifeGuard 2
This simple to use product is designed to be used frequently to keep your PC running in perfect condition. Every time you use the internet or run programs on your computer - unwanted files and procedures are stored on your hard-disc.Regular computer use accumulates old material that begins to slow down the operation of your hardware and software. So just like your car needs a regular service to keep it running smoothly - your computer needs System LifeGuard 2 to wash away technical clutter - maintain peak operating efficiency - and protect your vital data from loss. System LiIfeGuard 2 offers now the possibility to shred all unwanted files: you can permanently remove the files you want without leaving behind any chance of recovering those files. You can also optimize the way your disk space is used to store files using the new Disk Defragment.
Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/systemlifeguard.htm
SpeedUpMyPC 2.0
How To Increase Computer Speed And Performance - Great Tips & Tricks
March 15, 2008
Many computer users are worried about their computer’s performance. After spending lot of bucks, still they cannot have that charm of using PC as they had expected. Here I am going to explain some major tricks which are used by many computer users which help them to take efficient use of their CPU.
These tips could be of little importance for people who are already using processors with speed more than 2400 MHz but people using computer with less speed and little older mother boards and processors will enjoy these tips. They will realize significant increase in their computer’s performance.
Here are these tips:
1. Operating system choice:
You will be amazed to know that your choice of choosing right windows or operating system could play a significant role on your CPU’s performance. For example if you are given 5 bricks to carry them to next apartment and then 10 bricks to do same. Think how would be your performance if compared with both situations. Obviously you would perform well when carrying only 5 bricks.
