lawrence

VIDEO CARD AND SOUND CARD BRANDS

2008-06-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

sound card

video cards

VIDEO CARD BRANDS

1) X2800XTX
2) 8800GTX
3) 8800GTS
4) 7950GX2
5) 8800GTS 320MB
6) X1950XTX
7) X1900XTX
8) 7900GTX
9) X1900XT
10) X1900XT 256MB
11) 7900GTO
12) 7950GT
13) X1950Pro
14) 7900GT 512MB
15) X1900GT
16) 7800GTX 512MB
17) X1800XT
18) 7900GT
19) 7800GTX
20) 7900GS
21) X1800XL
22) 7800GT
23) X1800GTO
24) 7800GS
25) 7600GT
26) 7600GST
27) X1650XT
28) X850XT/XTPE
29) X800XT/XTPE
30) 6800Ultra/EE
31) 6800GT
32) 6800GS
33) X800XL
34) X850Pro
35) X1650 Pro
36) X800pro
37) X800GTO/GTO2
38) X1600XT
39) 7600GS
40) X800
41) 7300GT
42) 6800
43) X1600Pro
44) X1300XT
45) 6800XT/LE
46) 6600GT
47) X700Pro
48) 9800XT
49) 9800Pro
50) 9700Pro
51) 9800
52) 9800SE 256bit
53) S3 Chrome S27
54) X700
55) 5950Ultra
56) 9700
57) 5900Ultra
58) 5800Ultra
59) 5900
60) 5800
61) X1300Pro
62) 7300GS
63) 6600
64) 5900XT
65) X1300
66) X600XT
67) 7300LE
68) TI4800
69) TI4600
70) 9600XT
71) TI4800SE
72) 5700Ultra
73) 9500Pro
74) 9800SE 128bit
75) X600
76) 9600Pro
77) TI4400
78) 9500
79) 6600LE
80) X1300SE
81) 5700
82) 9600
83) 6200
84) TI4200
85) 5600
86) 5600XT
87) 9600SE
88) 9550
89) 5500
90) 7100GS
91) X300
92) 9550SE
93) 9200Pro
94) 9000Pro
95) 8500Pro
96) GeForce3 TI500
97) 8500
98) 8500LE
99) 5200Ultra
100) 9200
101) 9250
102) GeForce4 MX460
103) 5200
104) 9000
105) 9200SE
106) GeForce3 TI200
107) GeForce3
108) GeForce4 MX 440
109) 7500
110) 7200
111) GeForce2 Ultra
112) 7000
113) GeForce2 GTS
114) GeForce4 MX
115) Radeon
116) Voodoo5 5500
117) GeForce2 MX 400
118) GeForce256
119) GeForce2 MX
120) Voodoo4 4500
121) TNT2
122) Rage128 Pro
123) Voodoo3
124) TNT
125) Rage128
126) Riva128
127) Rage3D Pro
128) Voodoo Banshee
129) Voodoo2
130) Riva
131) Rage3D
132) VooDoo1

SOUND CARD BRANDS

Manufacturer
Creative
M-Audio
RME
Digigram
Turtle Beach
Ads Technologies
Aopen
Apogee
ASUS
Audiotrak
Auzentech
Compaq
Creative
Delta
Diamond
Diamond Multimedia
Digidesign
Digigram
E-MU
Echo
Edirol
ESI
Griffin
Hercules
HiTec
HP
HT Omega
Lynx
M-Audio
Midiman
Philips
PPA International
Razer
RME
Sabrent
Safeway
Siig
Sweex
Terratec
Trust
Turtle Beach
Zalman

Interface
ExpressCard
FireWire
PCI
USB

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Creative Sound Blaster 16 PCI PCI, Analog Line in kHz, Speaker support:

Creative SoundBlaster Live 24 Bit PCI, 3D sound support

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

E-MU 0202 USB USB, 192 kHz

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE PCI Bulk PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA 192 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1

HP Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Pci PCI, Speaker support: 7.1 Detailed

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX USB USB, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support reviews Compare prices

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi XtremeAudio / PCI PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi XtremeGamer / PCI PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE PCI PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Diamond Multimedia XtremeSound 7.1 PCI PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Turtle Beach Riviera 5.1 PCI, 48 kHz, Speaker support: 5.1, 3D sound support

Diamond XtremeSound XS71DDL PCI, 96 kHz, 3D sound support

Turtle Beach Montego Dolby Digital Live PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support Detailed product information

Creative Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 PCI

Creative SoundBlaster Audigy ES PCI Bulk PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 5.1, 3D sound

Zalman ZM-RSSC 5.1 External USB USB, Speaker support: 5.1

M-Audio Audiophile 192 PCI, 192 kHz

ASUS Xonar D2 / PCI PCI, 192 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

M-Audio Delta 1010LT PCI, 96 kHz

M-Audio Soundcard 410Firewire FireWire, 192 kHz

RME HDSP 9632 PCI, 192 kHz

M-Audio Delta 1010 PCI, 96 kHz

RME Fireface 800 FireWire, 192 kHz

Aopen AW 840 PCI PCI, 3D sound support

Sabrent SBT-SP6C 5.1 PCI PCI, Speaker support: 5.1, 3D sound support

Aopen AW850 PCI, 3D sound support Detailed product information

Sabrent SND-P8CH PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1

Siig IC1624 Soundwave 16Bits 5.1 PCI PCI, Speaker support: 5.1, 3D sound support

Safeway Sound Card 5.1 PCI PCI, Speaker support: 5.1, 3D sound support

Siig Soundwave 24Bits 7.1 PCI PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Griffin iMic External USB

M-Audio Sonica USB USB, 3D sound support

Creative Sound Blaster PCI 512 PCI, Line in, Microphone kHz

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic PCI, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Ads Technologies Instant Music RDX-150 USB, 48 kHz

Creative Audigy LS PCI, 96 kHz, 3D sound support

Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External USB USB, 96 kHz, Speaker support: 5.1

M-Audio Transit USB USB, 96 kHz

M-Audio Revolution 5.1 PCI, 192 kHz, Speaker support: 5.1, 3D sound support

Creative Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 PCI, Digital Line in, Microphone kHz price $99 1 retailers

M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI, 96 kHz, 3D sound support

M-Audio Fast Track USB USB, 48 kHz

Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card / PCI PCI, 192 kHz, Speaker support: 7.1, 3D sound support

Echo Mia Midi PCI, 96 kHz

Creative Audigy 2 Platinum eX PCI, 3D sound support

M-Audio MobilePre Soundcard USB USB, 94 kHz

M-Audio FireWire Solo FireWire, 96 kHz

Midiman Delta44 PCI, 96 kHz

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 PCI PCI, 96 kHz

Delta 66 PCI, 96 kHz, 3D sound support

M-Audio Delta 66 PCI, 96 kHz

Creative E-mu 0404 PCI, 96 kHz

Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum PCI, 96 kHz, 3D sound support

Echo Gina3G PCI PCI, 96 kHz

Digidesign Mbox 2 USB USB, 48 kHz

RME HDSP PCI PCI

Apogee X-FireWire FireWire, 192 kHz

RME DIGI96/8 PAD PCI, 96 kHz

Digigram VXpocket v2 50 kHz

Echo Layla3G PCI PCI, 96 kHz

Digigram VX222v2 PCI PCI, 48 kHz

Lynx Studio AES16-XLR PCI

RME HDSP 9652 PCI, 96 kHz

RME Digiface PCI, 96 kHz

Lynx TWO "A" Model PCI
Lynx TWO "C" Model PCI

RME HDSP MADI PCI, 96 kHz

Digigram VX882HR PCI PCI, 192 kHz

Digigram VX881HR PCI, 192 kHz

Digigram MiXart 8 PCI PCI, 48 kHz

REFERENCES

www.pcworld.co.uk/sound-cards

www.moogr.com/

CD AND DVD TECHNOLOGY

2008-06-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

CD & DVD TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

Recordable CD & DVD drives have become a must-have for home computers. More and more machines are including CD or DVD writer drives as a standard feature, and fast, affordable drives are easily available for machines without.
However, there's some question about new recordable DVD formats. There are no fewer than seven DVD formats, each with different specs and drive requirements — and not all of them are intended for computing.

DIFFERENCE BTW CD AND DVD

DVD media has at least seven times the capacity of CD media — a feat partially accomplished by using multiple recording layers and recording on both sides of the media. The write method also helps boost the capacity of DVD.

Data pits & lasers Like CDs, DVDs store data in microscopic grooves running in a spiral around the disc.

All DVD drive types use laser beams to scan these grooves: Minuscule reflective bumps (called lands) and nonreflective holes (called pits) aligned along the grooves represent the zeros and ones of digital information.
DVD technology writes in smaller "pits" to the recordable media than CD technology. Smaller pits mean that the drive's laser must produce a smaller spot. DVD technology achieves this by reducing the laser's wavelength from the 780nm infrared light used in standard CD drives to 625nm to 650nm red light.
Smaller data pits allow more pits per data track. The minimum pit length of a single layer DVD-RAM is 0.4 micron as compared to 0.834 micron for a CD. Additionally, DVD tracks are closer together, allowing more tracks per disc. Track pitch-the distance from the center of one part of the spiral information or "track" to the adjacent part of the track-is smaller. On a 3.95GB DVD-R, track pitch is 0.8 microns; CD track pitch is 1.6 microns. On 4.7GB DVD-R media, an even smaller track pitch of 0.74 microns helps boost storage capacity.
These narrow tracks require special lasers for reading and writing — which can't read CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, or audio CDs. DVD-ROM drive makers solved the problem by putting two lasers in their drives: One for DVDs, the other for CDs.
Layers To facilitate the focusing of the laser on smaller pits, DVD media uses a thinner plastic substrate than do CDs. This reduces the depth of the layer that the laser must pass through to reach the pits to record or read data. This reduction originally resulted in disks that were 0.6mm thick — half the thickness of a CD.
Even single-sided DVDs have two substrates, even though one isn't capable of holding data.

Double-sided discs with two data surfaces must be turned over (much like old vinyl records!) to read data on each side.
Data access speeds DVD accesses data faster than CD and uses more robust error correction. In fact, the speed of DVD demands a new unit of measure. CD drive speeds are expressed as multiples of that format's original data transfer rate "X," or 150KB per second. A 32X CD-ROM drive reads data at 32 times 150KBps or 4MBps. DVD's 1X is a blistering 1.38MBps. That's faster than an 8x CD drive.

Universal Data Format (UDF) Another big difference between DVD recording and CD recording is the recording format.

DVD recording uses UDF — Universal Data Format. UDF makes it possible to store data, video, audio, or a mix of all three within a single physical file structure. This file structure ensures that any file can be accessed by any drive, computer, or consumer video. UDF includes the CD-standard ISO 9660 compatibility, but CDs do not comply with UDF.
Updated December 10, 2002

SUMMARY

Compact Disc (CD): Red Book, 5.1 Music Disc, SACD, PhotoCD, CD-R, CD-ROM, CD-RW, CD Video (CDV), Video CD (VCD), SVCD, CD+G, CD-Text, CD-ROM XA, CD-i
MiniDisc (MD) (Hi-MD)

DVD: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RW DL, DVD+RW DL, DVD-RAM, DVD-D
Ultra Density Optical (UDO)
Universal Media Disc (UMD)
HD DVD: HD DVD-R, HD DVD-RW, HD DVD-RAM, HD DVD-ROM Blu-ray Disc (BD): BD-R, BD-RE

BRANDS OF BIOS TECHNOLOGY

2008-06-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

PRODUCTS: D975XBX2 (Standard BIOS)
BIOS Version 2634
About This BIOS:
 February 16, 2007
 BX97520J.86A.2634.2007.0216.1057
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.34
 PXE UNDI: Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 PXE Base Code: Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.42
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Added support for ACPI Serial Port Console Redirection (SPCR)
table for AMT SOL.
 Added support for Windows Vista* Media Center OCUR Host Firmware
Support.
 Added fix for ITK where Parallel Port is always hidden.
 Added fix for Windows Vista* where EBIOSPost.exe had error while
returning EBU status.

BIOS Version 2618
About This BIOS:
 February 12, 2007
 BX97520J.86A.2618.2007.0212.0954
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.34
 PXE UNDI: Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 PXE Base Code: Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.42
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Updated Microsoft Vista* support for STAC9227 and STAC9274D Audio
Codecs.
 Fixed boot order for SCSI HDD with certain SCSI controllers.
 Adding Serial Port enable/disable setup question in Standard BIOS.
 Added programming of PCI Subsystem Vendor ID and Subsystem ID for
the PCIe Graphics bridge.
 Fixed issue where system would not boot after installing a Vista*
OEM Activation string.
 Fixed issue where certain host bus adapter card was not
functional.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
 Added code to program the OEM SVID and SSID for onboard Marvell*
controller.
 Reduced S3 resume time related to processor detection.
 Fixed issue where 64-bit operating system installs would blue
screen with certain processors.

BIOS Version 2507
About This BIOS:
 January 23, 2007
 BX97520J.86A.2507.2007.0123.0952
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell* 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.34
 PXE UNDI: Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 PXE Base Code: Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.42
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Fixed issue where ECC Mode was not properly displayed when
Performance Memory Profiles set to Manual in BIOS Setup.
 Added workaround for HDD LED always being lit when Secondary SATA
Controller is disabled in BIOS Setup.
 Fixed boot order for add-in SCSI controller.
 Added support for certain SAS controller.
 IRQ Fix for USB Interrupts.
 Fixed failures seen with Vista* DTM BitLocker Drive Encryption
BIOS Interface Logo Test.
 Fixed issue where Microsoft* Vista BitLocker System Check would
not pass.
 Fixed issue where system would not recognize CTRL+ALT+DEL key
sequence from boot cycling machine.
 Fixed failures with the TCG ACPI Event Log when running the Vista
DTM TCG TPM BIOS Interface Test.
 Fixed issue where system hangs when trying to load FreeDOS*
bootable CD from a USB CD drive.
 Fixed ACPI failures whOS en running the Vista DTM TCG TPM Integration
Test.

BIOS Version 2431
About This BIOS:
 January 11, 2007
 BX97520J.86A.2431.2007.0110.1629
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.34
 PXE UNDI: Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 PXE Base Code: Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.42
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Added Hardware Watchdog Timer feature
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
 Fixed display of L2 Cache in BIOS Setup for multi-core processors
 Added "HPET Enable/Disable" BIOS setup option and set default
state to "Disable"
 Fixed calculation and display of the nominal (TCL-TRCD-TRPTRASMin)
memory timing values in BIOS Setup
 Fixed issue where certain processors would not resume from standby

BIOS Version 2395
About This BIOS:
 December 20, 2006
 BX97520J.86A.2395.2006.1220.1100
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.34
 PXE UNDI: Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 PXE Base Code: Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.42
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Added feature to always display the latest event's date and time
of event log.
 Fixed a problem where the system would boot to the wrong boot
device in AHCI or RAID mode.
 Fixed a problem where the setup option for Floppy did not display
correctly.
 Fixed the potential issue where all fans are on 100% when CPU is
changed.
 Fixed the display alignment of the output values on the BIOS setup
hardware monitoring page.
 Fixed the display of negative value on BIOS setup Hardware
Monitoring Page with some CPUs.
 Added work-around for IDE-R 6 hour open session issue in a host
software package.
 Fixed system continues to boot to next bootable device when no
IDER media present during AMT IDER & SOL session.
 Fixed issue where POST errors may be displayed during Maintenance
Mode boot.
 Fixed issue where system hangs after AC Loss if the Reference
Frequency is overridden.
 Hide "Clear TPM" option in Maintenance setup page if TPM is not
enabled or not supported.
 Fixed issue where Intel® Audio Studio does not launch with 3GB
Memory and certain PCI-E video card.
 Removed USB 2.0 Enable/Disable question from setup.
 Fixed AMT system only able to provision when USB device is
present.
 Fixed issue where TPM Physical Presence was not cleared and locked
intermittently at the end of POST.
 Added fix to eliminate fan speed surge after reset.
 Fixed issue where Vista would hang during boot on systems with
Atmel TPM if the TPM was enabled in BIOS SETUP.
 New PXE Base code : Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.42
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

BIOS Version 2333
About This BIOS:
 November 27, 2006
 BX97520J.86A.2333.2006.1127.1450
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell* 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.34
 Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Fixed issue where ICH7 controller would not come up in the proper
mode in certain circumstances.
BIOS Version 2330
About This BIOS:
 November 16, 2006
 BX97520J.86A.2330.2006.1116.1034
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell* 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.34
 Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Fixed issue where “Clear BIOS Passwords” feature in Maintenance
Page of BIOS Setup was not working.
 Updated Marvell* 88SE6145 Option ROM to version 1.1.0.34.
 Fixed issue where BIOS Setup defaults would overwrite current user
settings when entering Maintenance Mode.
 Added Microsoft* Vista* support for STAC9227 and STAC9274D audio
codecs.
 Expanded overclocking functionality.
 Added IDCC version 2.02 support.
 Fixed an issue where auto-recovery from a corrupt image wasn't
working.
 Fixed fan speed surge during initial power on.
 Fixed higher than normal Fan noise with certain processors.
 Fixed potential issue where Fan speed stuck at 100%.
 Fixed issue where attempting to use the One Time Boot Menu
appeared to hang POST.
 Fixed issue where Recovery status screen is blank.
BIOS Version 2214
About This BIOS:
 October 23, 2006
 BX97520J.86A.2214.2006.1023.1710
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
 Marvell* 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.17
 Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Fixed issue where Marvell* SATA Controller is Disabled by default
on first board boot.

BIOS Version 2212
About This BIOS:
 October 21, 2006
 BX97520J.86A.2212.2006.1021.1659
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell* 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.17
 Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Improved overclocking headroom in some cases.
 Fixed potential POST hang.
 Fixed intermittent hang when margining the host clock.
 Supports OEM Activation 2.0. For details on the OEM Activation
Program, send email to oasignh@microsoft.com
 Fixed the corrupted display which shows incorrect digits of RPM
for fans when they are stopped.
 Fixed PCIe frequency margining not working in some cases.
 Fixed issue where S3 did not work with certain processors.
 Fixed issue where operating system installation would blue
screen with certain processors.

BIOS Version 1846
About This BIOS:
 September 29, 2006
 BX97520J.86A.1846.2006.0929.0913
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
 Marvell* 88SE6145 SATA BIOS – v1.1.0.17
 Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
 Intel® Active Management Technology info:
 Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
 Initial production bios release
LEGAL INFORMATION
Information in this document is provided in connection with Intel Products and for the
purpose of supporting Intel developed server/desktop boards and systems.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise, to any intellectual property rights is
granted by this document. Except as provided in Intel's Terms and Conditions of Sale for such
products, Intel assumes no liability whatsoever, and Intel disclaims any express or implied
warranty, relating to sale and/or use of Intel products including liability or warranties relating to
fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, or infringement of any patent, copyright or other
intellectual property right. Intel Corporation may have patents or pending patent applications,
trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights that relate to the presented subject
matter. The furnishing of documents and other materials and information does not provide any
license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise, to any such patents, trademarks,
copyrights, or other intellectual property rights. Intel products are not intended for use in
medical, life saving, or life sustaining applications. Intel may make changes to specifications and
product descriptions at any time, without notice.
Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.

Copyright (c) 2006 Intel Corporation.

LIST OF DIFFERENT MOTHERBOARDS BRANDS SPECS AND CAPABILITY

2008-06-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

MOTHER BOARDS

The primary component of a computer is the motherboard (sometimes called the "mainboard").

The motherboard is the hub which is used to connect all of the computer's essential components.
As its name suggests, the motherboard acts as a "parent" board, which takes the form of a large printed circuit with connectors for expansion cards, memory modules, the processor, etc.
Characteristics
There are several ways in which a motherboard can be characterised, in particular the following:
· the form factor,
· the chipset,
· the type of processor socket used,
· the input-output connectors.

Motherboard form factor
The term "form factor" is normally used to refer to the motherboard's geometry, dimensions, arrangement, and electrical requirements. In order to build motherboards which can be used in different brands of cases, a few standards have been developed:
· AT baby/AT full format is a format used in the earliest 386 and 486 PCs. This format was replaced by the ATX format, which shape allowed for better air circulation and made it easier to access the components;
· ATX: The ATX format is an upgrade to Baby-AT. It was intended to improve ease of use. The connection device on an ATX motherboard is designed to make plugging in peripherals as easy as possible (for example, the IDE connectors are located beside the disks.) What's more, motherboard components are arranged in parallel, so as to improve heat removal.
o ATX standard: The ATX standard format is traditionally 305x244 mm. It includes an AGP connector and 6 PCI connectors.
o micro-ATX: The microATX format is an upgrade to ATX, which has the same primary advantages in a smaller format (244x244 mm), with a lower cost. Micro-ATX includes an AGP connector and 3 PCI connectors.
o Flex-ATX: FlexATX is an expansion of microATX which offers manufacturers greater flexibility when designing their computers. It includes an AGP connector and 2 PCI connectors.
o mini-ATX: miniATX is a compact alternative to the format microATX (284x208 mm), and includes an AGP connector and 4 PCI connectors instead of 3 that come with microATX. It is mainly intended for mini-PCs (barebone computers).
· BTX: The BTX format (Balanced Technology eXtended), supported by Intel, is a format designed to improve upon the arrangement of components, so as to optimise air circulation, acoustics, and heat dissipation. The various connectors (memory slots, expansion slots) are aligned in parallel, in the direction in which air circulates. Additionally, the microprocessor is located in the front end of the case, by the air intake, where the air is freshest. The BTX power cord is the same as with ATX power supplies.

The BTX standard defines three formats:
o BTX standard, with standard dimensions of 325x267 mm;
o micro-BTX, with small dimensions (264x267 mm);
o pico-BTX, with much smaller dimensions (203x267 mm).

· ITX: The ITX format (Information Technology eXtended), supported by Via, is an extremely compact format designed for miniature configurations such as mini-PC.

There are two major ITX formats:
o mini-ITX, with small dimensions (170x170 mm) and a PCI slot;
o nano-ITX, with extremely small dimensions (120x120 mm) and a miniPCI slot.

For this reason, the choice of the motherboard (and its form factor) depends on which case is chosen.

below is a summary of the characteristics of the various form factors.

Form factor Dimensions Slots

ATX 305 mm x 244 mm AGP / 6 PCI

microATX 244 mm x 244 mm AGP / 3 PCI

FlexATX 229 mm x 191 mm AGP / 2 PCI

Mini ATX 284 mm x 208 mm AGP / 4 PCI

Mini ITX 170 mm x 170 mm 1 PCI

Nano ITX 120 mm x 120 mm 1 MiniPCI

BTX 325 mm x 267 mm 7

microBTX 264 mm x 267 mm 4

picoBTX 203 mm x 267 mm 1

Integrated components
The motherboard includes some on-board components, meaning that they are integrated into its printed circuitry:
· The chipset, a circuit which controls the majority of resources (including the bus interface with the processor, cache memory and random-access memory, expansion cards, etc.)
· The CMOS clock and battery,
· The BIOS,
· The system bus and the expansion bus.

What's more, recent motherboards generally include a number of onboard multimedia and networking devices which can be disabled:
· integrated network card;
· integrated graphics card;
· integrated sound card;
· upgraded hard drive controllers.

REFERENCES

www.pctechguide.com/11Motherboards.htm
www.amazon.co.uk/Motherboards-Accessories-Computer-Peripherals/b?
computing.kelkoo.co.uk/c-111101-motherboards.html

2008-06-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

HOW TO BUY COMPUTER POWER SUPPLY

The power supply governs the:

stability,
cooling,
energy efficiency, and
expandability of your computer,

and will affect the reliability of your components. If you buy a case with a power supply included, you'll still need to ensure the power supply meets your needs.

Step1
Buy a power supply specifically made for the type of case and motherboard you are using. An ATX power supply should have a side-mounted fan.

Step2
Buy a 230- to 300-watt power supply to have enough power to accommodate all the hardware you may add to the case.

Step3
Settle for a 150- to 200-watt power supply for an ATX-based computer if your budget is limited. Buy a 200-watt power supply to run a Pentium III processor.

Step4
Pay slightly more for more power.

Step5
Figure your exact power requirements if all your components have power consumption specifications.

Step6
Compare specifications and warranties.

Tips & Warnings
If your power supply is overtaxed, it will generate excessive heat, which will shorten its life, as well as the life of the computer's internal components.

HOW TO BUY COMPUTER CASING

Look for a case that will:

fit all the components (drives, cards and so on) you will install now and might install in the future.
Make sure it comes with a power supply that's adequate for your hardware, unless you plan to buy a separate power supply.

Step1
Buy a case that will fit your motherboard's form factor, most likely ATX.

Step2
Buy a tower if you plan to install many drives and cards; otherwise buy a midtower (also called a minitower).

Step3
Compare the numbers of drive bays and expansion slots available.

Step4
Make sure the case has enough open space to allow good air circulation through the computer and easy working space to install parts.

Step5
Look for solid construction; compare amounts of plastic and steel in various cases.

Step6
Find a case that opens easily, ideally without requiring tools.

Step7
"How to Buy a Computer Power Supply" to determine what power supply should be included.

Tips & Warnings

Unless space is at a premium for you, don't buy a stub chassis (sometimes called a microtower) or a desktop chassis. These cases are small, so they fit on top of your desk, but there's little room inside for either expansion or working on things, and the bays might have to be stacked sideways.

If you're considering a "designer" case, make sure it provides as much protection as a bland-colored, rectangular box and doesn't require proprietary parts.
Make sure the case fits any special needs you might have, such as space for a second cooling fan or a shape that will fit your desk.
Don't be impressed by turbo buttons or key locks. These are old features without much current use.

REFERENCES

www.xoxide.com/buy-computer-power-supplies.html

www.importexporthelp.com/ibd/computer-case-manufacturer.htm

COMPUTER SERVICING FLOW CHART

2008-06-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

REFERENCES

http://www.attlee.se/

book.itzero.com

www.cisco.com

DIFFERENT LCD AND CRT MONITORS ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

2008-05-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

LCD Monitor Advantages

· Uses Less Power. LCDs also produce less heat, which means less load on air conditioning.
· Takes up less space. LCD monitors are small, thin, and weigh less.
· Highly adjustable. Many LCD models can be rotated 90 degrees, allowing you to view websites in portrait mode. LCDs can also be mounted on the wall or on an arm.
· No flicker. LCDs don't have lines that need to be scanned like in CRTs. No flicker = a lot less eye strain.
· Less glare. Due to the material of the LCD screen, less light is reflected at the user. Same with "no flicker", this results in less eye strain.
· Brightness. LCD monitors are brighter than the traditional CRTs.
· Less distortion. Using a direct digital input from the graphics card produces cleaner 'output'. The monitor's perfect geometry means images aren't distorted, which is a boon for graphic designers and the like.
· Energy Efficient
· The scan lines and constant light barrage of a CRT tube tend to cause strain on heavy custom computer users.
· On the other hand lower intensity of LCD monitors produces less fatigue for computer users.

LCD Monitor Disadvantages

Blurry Images Outside Native Resolution
Motion Blur on Fast Moving Images
LCD’s another drawback was the lower response time when playing a video, though there has been several improvements, but there are some LCD monitors that still have lower response times. You must be aware of low response time factor of LCD monitors when purchasing it.
· Another problem of LCD monitors is color clarity. Unluckily, the PC industry has not taken some proper steps to guide and help buyers understand or compare monitors through providing listings, specifications etc.
· More expensive than CRTs. You pay for what you get; LCDs look good and are good for your eyes
· Dead pixels. When the electrical current to one or more pixels does not operate properly, one or more cells are permanently aligned, resulting in a dead pixel.
· Screen care and fragility. LCD monitors may be slim and sexy, but they're also more prone to damage and screen breakage.
· Native resolution. LCD monitors can only display information well at the resolution they were designed for. At any other resolution, image quality will suffer.
· Pixel response time. In videos and fast-paced video games, LCDs suffer from the ghosting effect.
· Viewing angles. Looking at an LCD monitor from an angle causes the image to look dimmer or even disappear completely.
· Colors. The color accuracy of an LCD monitor does not match that of a CRT monitor's.
· Now, the disadvantage was noticed the bigger is the native or fixed resolution of LCD screens. Only pixels in matrix can be displayed through an LCD monitor. It can display a lower resolution in one of two ways. Utilizing very less of the total pixels when display or through extrapolation. Extrapolation is a process through the monitor blends multiple pixels together to generate a single pixel.

CRT Monitors
Advantages:
· Color rendering is the primary advantage that CRT monitors held over LCD monitors. The depths of colors displayed and contrast ratios were much greater and better with CRT monitors than LCD monitors. While it is still true in only some cases, many series have been produced in LCD monitors such that the difference is not as great as once it was.Obviously the other benefit that CRT monitors provide over LCD screens is the ability to easily scale the various resolutions. This is dubbed to as multisync by the custom built PC industry. The screen may easily be adjusted downward to lower resolutions through adjusting the electron beam in the tube, while keeping the picture clarity intact.

• High Refresh Rates

• Color Clarity and Depth

• Multisync Capable

Disadvantages:
· The biggest disadvantages of CRT monitors are the weight and size of tubes. A same sized LCD monitor is more of 80% smaller in weight and size when compared to a CRT tube. The other bigger disadvantage is more power consumption. CRT monitor needs energy for electron beam means more consumption of power and more generation of heat than a LCD monitor.

• Very Heavy and Large

• Generate Excess Heat

• Use Large Amounts of Energy

CONCLUSION

Well, as per demand is concerned, lots of people would like to purchase LCD monitors rather than CRT monitors for their custom built PCs. There is no huge difference in the cost to consumer. Normally CRTs would only be seen sold with the rather cheap custom built PCs or by those who needs special imaging as graphics professionals.

REFERENCES

ergo.human.cornell.edu/PUB/LCD_vs_CRT_AH.pdf

pcsupport.about.com/od/componentprofiles/p/p_monitor.htm

SPECIAL TOOLS USED IN COMPUTER ASS.& SERVICING

2008-05-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

SPECIAL TOOLS USED IN COMPUTER ASS. AND SERVICING

Tackle minor electronic maintenance with ease when you use Belkin's 36-Piece Professional Computer Tool Kit.
All 36 high-quality tools are fully demagnetized to protect your computer's hard drive or magnetic media from damage.
Includes:
Ø 9-piece Allen wrench set,
Ø two-way Phillips/flat mini screwdriver,
Ø two-way Phillips/regular screwdriver,
Ø 5" long-nose pliers,
Ø 6" #1 Phillips screwdriver,
Ø screwdriver-to-socket adapter,
Ø anti-static wrist band,
Ø color box,
Ø two flat head,
Ø IC extractor,
Ø two Phillips heads,
Ø reversible ratchet,
Ø five sockets,
Ø spare parts box,
Ø three-pronged parts retriever,
Ø five Torx bits and tweezers.

This 1.6-pound kit comes organized in a 9" x 6.5" x 1.5" black zipper case. One-year warranty.

REFERENCES

www.pcworld.co.uk/

HEALTH EFFECTS ON THE USE OF COMPUTER

2008-05-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

HEALTH EFFECTS ON THE USE OF COMPUTER

The results of medical examination indicated that :

Ø repetitive motion injuries and eyestrain, most often stem from overuse of computers and use of computers that are positioned inappropriately for children

Ø tiredness, feeling dazed, headaches and irritability.

Ø complaints with school life and environment, sports trainings, insufficient sleep etc.

Ø disorders of the central nervous system were diagnosed in and muscular pain.

Results of the eye specialist`s examination Students working with computers

Ø Myopia

Ø Hyperopia

Ø Inflammation of eye

Ø mucosa

Computer Monitors Harm to Your Health

The spot of electrons which sweep the screen generates what scientists call PEMR (Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Radiation) which, at close range, disturbs the balance of all living cells. It has been established that the harmful effects of PEMR exist all around the screen, especially in front of and behind the tube, effects which persist several hours after the computer or TV set has been turned off.
Ø abnormal general fatigue,
Ø neuropsychological disorders,
Ø increased absenteeism,
Ø loss of productivity,
Ø declining ability to concentrate and to memorise,
Ø aggression and scholastic problems in prepubescent children,
Ø predisposition to dyslexia, and
Ø lowered spermatogenesis
Ø increase in miscarriages compared to the female personnel who were not exposed to the radiation generated by computer screens.

Our cells are affected

Several other problems have also been observed in people who spend more than four hours a day in close proximity to an unprotected VDT:
Ø stress,
Ø headaches,
Ø irritability,
Ø insomnia,
Ø eye strain,
Ø eyesight decline,
Ø Abnormal general fatigue,
Ø decrease in productivity and in the natural resistance of the immune system,
Ø decline in libido,
Ø disorders in the menstrual cycle,
Ø and hormonal disturbances.
Ø the normal curve of adrenaline (the stress hormone) excretion reverses itself Almost as if the body, under attack by the PEMR, was retaining its adrenaline to better face it. These researchers discovered that after several hours, a screen user is placed “under stress” by his screen and experiences a hormonal malfunction from the saturation of adrenaline

REFERENCES
.” (CNRS Journal, France, [Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, i.e. National Center for Scientific Research], February 1998.)
July 1990, the American magazine Macworld published Pulsed Electro Magnetic Radiation emanating from cathode-ray screens in the articles “Is Your Computer Killing You?”,