All About Technology

Computer Cooling Hardware

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:20:50 +0000

PC cooling systems are one of the hottest – and coolest – computer hardware accessories avaliable. Most computers, however, still do not come with a cooling system more advanced than the typical heat sink and cpu fan. Some computers, however, are being sold with liquid cooling systems, such as the Apple G5 Power Mac. The dual processors undoubtedly put out a great deal of excess heat that a simple copper heat sink and fan alone can not properly dissipate. Intel is also getting into the new cooling trend, claiming that it’s newest processors (of the Pentium 4 line) are approximately 20 degrees hotter than any chip currently produced by AMD (Advanced Micro Devices).

Although these new processors all but absolutely require high-end cooling systems, it may not be a bad idea to add an additional cooling system to your 1-3 year old system. Your heatsink and fan can probably handle the heat, but the additional cooling can’t hurt. Here are some popular options if you are looking to add a new cooling system to your computer:

- Water cooling system. Several companies currently offer both external and internal liquid systems that can efficiently cool a wide range of processors, whether you have a P4, or a late AMD processor such as the K7 or K8. Some come with a nifty control panel that shows the processor temperature and speed of the fan.

- Memory cooling system. CPU’s are not the only hardware component that becomes dangerously hot during prolonged computer usage. Your memory cards can also produce a large amount of heat. To combat this, there are memory heat spreaders avaliable to dissipate RAM heat. The aluminum bars attach to the RAM module, providing an outlet for the heat – working much like a CPU heatsink.

- Heavy-duty fan system. Fans are not at all out of the cooling picture. Replacing the ordinary manufactures fan with a custom model can be beneficial to your CPU’s performance. There are many new fan-type cooling systems avaliable, including some that blow air powerfully around the heat sink, much a like a miniture jet engine.

There are quite a lot of options when it comes to properly cooling your PC. The process of setting up just the right cooling system for you can be fun and rewarding. Chances are fairly good that if your computer is less than 3 years old, it could benefit immensly from improved cooling and ventilation.

Looking to buy cooling equiptment? Try these companies (Thermaltake, Coolermaster, Zalman, Swiftech)

A Must Have Aircraft Game Hardware – Flight Sim Yoke USB

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:20:04 +0000

You are probably thinking what could you do more when it comes to enhancing your aircraft game experience at your very own home. Have you considered adding up some enhancements such as a flight sim yoke usb so you could get closer to the real thing? If not, then you should try to do so. This would definitely add up to the challenge as well as having a more realistic approach when it comes to enjoying your aircraft simulator game.

To enjoy this kind of feature and to enhance your gaming experience, your flight simulator should allow support on joysticks and other hardware enhancements. If this is your first time to consider having yokes or joysticks added into your own gaming system, you must be able to look for a compatible hardware that would work wit it, or instead search for a software that is capable of supporting hardware being integrated to it.

A flight sim yoke usb would allow you to control your aircraft as if you were flying it for real. The yoke allows your left and right hand to control the whole flight experience as you try to manage navigating the aircraft properly and keep it steady up in the air. If you are a fanatic to this and would like to create a replica cockpit of your favorite aircraft, a yoke would be one of the best options you’ll have to get closer to the real thing.

Now, the possibilities of finding the best yokes available for your system may not be as much as challenging as finding the right software to work with it. However, with a few selection of available flight sim yoke usb enhancements, you should be able to find a compatible hardware based on complying with its system requirements.

The possible features that you may enjoy with having your own usb yoke are its plug and play feature, easy set up, precision control as well as axis controls. These features would then allow you to maneuver the aircraft and control it properly up in the air, while you are taking of and while you are landing as well. So this is definitely not only a game but a learning experience as well.

The best way to maximize the use of your yoke with your gaming system is to make sure that the flight sim software you have is capable of an integrated joystick support to detect and attach the yoke or other hardware enhancements conveniently. Through this, you will not be wasting your time and money, instead, you will be enjoying real life flying more than ever.

Choosing the Best Hardware For Your Computer

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:09:49 +0000

For most of the people who own a computer, the process of looking for and purchasing new hardware is one big headache. You are probably thinking about having the latest version of each and every hardware accessory available for your computer, since you want it to be the best of the best.
However, this is not always the best idea.

It could be the case that the newest hardware is still mostly untested. You will never know how this new hardware will respond when you attach it to your computer. It could work perfectly well and never give you any trouble, or else it could lead to serious issues once you attach it to your computer.

So what is the best way to know for sure which hardware part you need to buy?

Well, for starters, reading the reviews that other people write is a good idea. You will be able to see the positive things that the hardware offers to its users. On the other hand, you will also be able to know of any problems that you might experience if you buy the hardware in question and if there are any solutions available to such problems.

Apart from this, you can see how the majority of people feel about the part. If there is a high percentage of people who recommended the product, then you know that you will probably be safe if you do actually purchase it. However, you will not want to go anywhere near the new hardware part if the majority of the people have faced issues when using such hardware.

Computer Forensics Tools

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:21:56 +0000

In general, a computer forensic investigator will use a tool in order to gather data from a system (e.g. a computer or computer network) without altering the data on that system. This aspect of an investigation, the care taken to avoid altering the original data, is a fundamental principle of computer forensic examination and some of the tools available include functionality specifically designed to uphold this principle. In reality it is not always easy to gather data without altering the system in some way (even the act of shutting a computer down in order to transport it will most likely cause changes to the data on that system) but an experienced investigator will always strive to protect the integrity of the original data whenever possible. In order to do this, many computer forensic examinations involve the making of an exact copy of all the data on a disk. This copy is called an image and the process of making an image is often referred to as imaging. It is this image which is usually the subject of subsequent examination.

Another key concept is that deleted data, or parts thereof, may be recoverable. Generally speaking, when data is deleted it is not physically wiped from the system but rather only a reference to the location of the data (on a hard disk or other medium) is removed. Thus the data may still be present but the operating system of the computer no longer “knows” about it. By imaging and examining all of the data on a disk, rather than just the parts known to the operating system, it may be possible to recover data which has been accidentally or purposefully deleted.

Although most real world tools are designed to carry out a specific task (the hammer to hammer nails, the screwdriver to turn a screw, etc.) some tools are designed to be multi-functional. Similarly some computer forensic tools are designed with only one purpose in mind whereas others may offer a whole range of functionality. The unique nature of every investigation will determine which tool from the investigator’s toolkit is the most appropriate for the task in hand.

As well as differing in functionality and complexity, computer forensic tools also differ in cost. Some of the market-leading commercial products cost thousands of dollars while other tools are completely free. Again, the nature of the forensic examination and the goal of the investigation will determine the most appropriate tools to be used.

The collection of tools available to the investigator continues to expand and many tools are regularly updated by their developers to enable them to work with the latest technologies. Furthermore, some tools provide similar functionality but a different user interface, whereas others are unique in the information they provide to the examiner. Against this background it is the task of the computer forensic examiner to judge which tools are the most appropriate for an investigation, bearing in mind the nature of the evidence which needs to be collected and the fact that it may at some stage be presented to a court of law. Without doubt, the growing number of both civil and criminal cases where computer forensic tools play a significant role makes this a fascinating field for all those involved.

Laptop Stickers, What Are They?

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:19:58 +0000

What are they?

No matter what it is, we strive to make common things our own and make them completely unique. We put stickers on our cars as well as our homes and valued personal possessions. They provide us a way to take something that is produced through mass production and are all the same, and customize it into something that is completely unique to us and our own personality. This is true even when it comes to stickers on laptops.

Add Your Style

Laptop stickers are not your typical stickers and are often referred to as laptop “skins”. They are available in several different shapes and sizes, that are large enough to cover the entire cover of your laptop computer. These are the best stickers to use to personalize your computers, as they are available in a wide variety of styles. In many cases, these can be completely custom made to include your initials, or even your company name. Manufacturers of these also offer them in a variety of sizes based on the brand and model of your laptop to ensure that your custom laptop sticker is a perfect fit.

Brand Your Computer

Full cover laptop skins are not your only option. There are several different types of laptop stickers that allow you to customize your laptops look and brand it completely. Brand stickers are available in several shapes, such as stars, hearts, ovals, circles and squares. They can be designed to duplicate the shape of your logo. These can be less expensive smaller and removable. These type of stickers are perfect for passing out at trade shows and conferences.

If you have a business, these are excellent options, especially for those reps and sales people who meet with potential clients. Customized laptop stickers will allow you to keep your brand on the minds of those of those clients while your reps use their laptops in meetings and presentations. Custom stickers can also be textured and raised or made out of gold and silver foil. It is completely up to you and the brand you are putting out there.

Advantages

The great thing about all removable laptop stickers is that they are not permanent. You will most likely need to upgrade your computer at some point down the road so it is important that you can remove your stickers and not lose your creativity. If you were to sell the computer, someone else may not want your brand or personal touch on it, so laptop stickers are removable. These custom stickers are excellent for distributing in your marketing campaigns as well as at trade shows, conferences and other corporate events.

Laptop stickers are distinctive in that they are not made with your typical paper or plastic with adhesive on the back. They have to be more durable and removable than your average decal. Polypropylene is a plastic polymer that is unique and able to withstand high temperatures, which is excellent on a laptop that heats up. Polypropylene is very rugged and is easy to dye, which makes it excellent for laptop sticker printing. Because polypropylene is available in sheets, it is very conducive to printing and dye cutting, making it the perfect option for laptop stickers.

When it comes to customizing your laptop for personal or business reasons, laptop stickers are the way to go. You are not completely stuck with laptop stickers for the life of the computer and you can remove them and keep your stickers when you upgrade. They are also excellent for branding and identification as well, so you should have no reservations when it comes to creating laptop stickers and placing them on your computers.

Computer Hardware Sales

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:54:59 +0000

Hardware for computers includes the computer itself, the monitor, keyboard, printer, mouse and speakers. There is also hardware inside the computer including the motherboard that holds the main processing chips that make up the central processing unit (CPU). The hardware processes the commands it receives from the software, and performs tasks or calculations.

There are basically four places to buy hardware for your computer. These are auctions, the Internet, local retailers and mail orders. The following is a condensed review of each of the above.

Auctions are the most popular sites for purchasing hardware for your computer. Low cost is the main factor that drives people to auctions. However, there are some things that you should be aware of. Unfortunately, on-line auctions are riddled with scams. As a matter of fact, it is the number one place for thefts and scams. You need to make sure that you know as much as you can about the seller so that you will not be buying stolen or copied, illegal goods. Online auction sites like e-bay or Yahoo are pretty reliable sites to go to if you are looking for safe auctions.

The Internet is a popular place to check out computer hardware sales, but you must be sure that when you buy hardware (or any purchase) over the Internet, the site offers some kind of security to prevent information about you from being stolen.

Your local computer store is one of the safest places you can go to buy hardware for your computer. Just make sure the store has knowledgeable salespeople. These days, good help is hard to find, and a sales representative may not have answers to your questions or give you false information. You must also inquire about “return policies” in case you buy defective parts.

Finally, mail ordering computer parts is somewhat safe if you follow a few common sense steps. Make sure that the mail order company has a valid phone number where you can speak with someone if you need to. Know the company’s return policy and verify the warranty on the products you are purchasing.

Electrical CAD Software

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:20:58 +0000

Electrical CAD software is used to integrate electrical systems and designing complex interconnect wiring and harnesses in high technology products such as cars, planes, and trains. Improvements in technology have forced manufacturers to install more electrical components in the same available space to satisfy customer demands. Electrical CAD software allows users to generate different blueprints of electrical systems and select the most appropriate design.

Electrical CAD software is often used in conjunction with mechanical CAD software to integrate electrical systems with mechanical systems in the available space. The software is also used to test electrical design blueprints with the help of advanced simulation tools.

The software allows electrical and mechanical engineers to work concurrently on a design and share design changes. It allows electrical system architects to assess different variations of the electrical layout and combine it with designs provided by mechanical system architects. The software has an electrical design and optimization toolset with an integrated sketching environment that provides seamless integration between different sub systems. The software is developed according to intelligent design rules that support the design automation and configuration of components, as well as the automatic generation of correctly configured wiring schematics and other information.

The software helps in controlling different aspects of wiring design such as interactive design process, physical location of components, and physical routing of wire bundles. It helps in calculating the exact specifications of wire length and wire size for harness manufacturing and ensuring that the wires are correctly sized according to the power they must transmit. This is necessary as using small sized wires will result in overheating and if the wires are too large, it will increase wiring costs.

The software also allows electrical system designers to make design presentations on a computer or other projection systems for getting design approval and making the necessary changes if required.

Computer Forensics Examiners

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:06:45 +0000

Computer forensics examiners are professionals who use analytical and investigative techniques to provide digital evidence for a specific or general activity.

The International Society of Forensic Computer Examiners provides the Certified Computer Examiner (CCE) certification for individuals who are interested in making a career in the field of Computer forensics.

The CCE certification is provided with an intention to professionalize and further the field and science of computer forensics. The CCE certification provides a fair, uncompromised process for certifying the capability of forensic computer examiners. This certification is universally recognized, which helps in setting high and ethical forensic standards for forensic computer examiners.

CCE certification is only given to individuals with no criminal record. Examiners are certified only after they pass online exams and successfully perform actual forensic examinations on three test medias. The certified examiner must adhere to the ISFCE code of ethical standards and professional responsibilities.

Before trying for certification, it is recommended that one has a proper understanding of basic rules of evidence, as they are related to the seizure or acquisition of magnetic media, handling, marking and storage of electronic evidence, the ?chain of custody? and the ?right to privacy.?

Computer examiners are trained in proper evidence handling and documentation. With a logical thought process and investigative instincts, these individuals are able to operate at a totally professional level.

People with a military background, government or former law enforcement officers have a chance to be successful computer forensic examiners, as they already have developed a fine investigative instinct.

Certified Computer forensic examiners are held in high regard. This is because an increasing number of companies and government agencies need them.

CCE certification is becoming a valuable credential for computer forensic examiners. Unfortunately a number of computer forensic examiners have false certification, so it is advisable to beware of examiners whose credibility can always be challenged.

Computer Hardware Terminology

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:20:14 +0000

Unlike other electronic devices, computer is the sum of its parts. Nobody cares about the specifications and make of the picture tube of a particular brand of television. But in the case of computers, more than the brand name the specifications of its components like processor, motherboard, RAM, hard disk, and suchlike are the things that a knowledgeable consumer first asks about. Here is computer hardware terminology in a nutshell.

Processor or microprocessor is a powerful IC chip on which a number of functions are incorporated. It is the heart and brain of the computer rolled into a chip. Its efficiency depends on its speed of processing, which is specified by its frequency and it is denoted using gigahertz. The higher the speed, the better will be its functioning. Also, there are several types of processors such as 32-bit processor and 64-bit processor. The bit rate is not actually a yardstick of speed. The larger bit rate means the processor will be able to efficiently do several computing processes at the same time.

Another main item in computer hardware terminology is motherboard. In simple terms, it is the platform on which all the other components are electrically fitted in. Over the years, a number of additional functionalities such as sound card, graphics card, and networking card are slotted on to the motherboard. When selecting motherboard, one should make sure that the motherboard is compatible with other components such as processor, hard disk, and RAM.

Hard disk and RAM are the next items in the hierarchy of computer hardware terminology. A computer has two types of memory. Permanent memory is stored magnetically on hard disk and it will be stored in the disk even after the computer is shut down. On the other hand, RAM or random access memory will be off once the computer is shut down. It is the kind of memory on which the functional information while running a computer, like running programs and unsaved data, are kept when computer is running. When you save a file, the data is stored to hard disk from RAM.

Nowadays the memory capacity of hard disk is skyrocketing. It is all set to break the upper limits of gigabytes. Comparing to that, RAM was a slow starter. It is still ambling along the lower middle part of gigabytes. Lay users do not need a RAM with a large capacity. The price of RAM increases with the rise in memory capacity.

Computer peripherals like keyboard, mouse, monitor, CD or DVD drives and writers, speaker, and webcams are all part of a large list called computer hardware terminology. There are other hardware items also such as graphics card, sound card and video card for sound recording and video editing facility, and internal and external modems for browsing the internet.

Hardware – A Look at the Issues

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:24:05 +0000

Selecting a vendor to supply your IT networking hardware often feels like trying to buy a used automobile in another country. The most difficult part may be choosing a brand from an unrecognizable set of manufacturers. There are many choices to make, and although the common reaction is to look for the cheapest price, we all know that there are many other factors which play important roles in good decision-making.

Selecting a Vendor of Hardware

The majority of large-sized vendors of hardware base their prices on not just the first purchase but on probable future purchases as well. It’s often possible to get better deals on today’s sale if the vendor can anticipate future sales and growth from your account. For this reason it’s a good idea to express your long-term goals to the vendor.

Your opt-in repair and service warranties are also important when selecting hardware for your network. Do you have a clear understanding of the services your vendor is offering in your location? For service at your location, what is the maximum distance technical support will travel? Are there extra costs associated, and do they outsource these services to another company? Phone-in technical support and warranty assurances are important, too. After making the initial purchase, what can you count on in terms of firmware, upgrades, and support. Find out in advance, and get it on paper.

Our practice has selected Dell. With good pricing, a life cycle for their product which lasts longer than we like to keep our hardware, it is a good match. Additionally, Dell offers onsite service in four hours for server and switch issues. There are volume discounts offered, so the more we purchase from them, the better our discount becomes.

After selecting a particular hardware vendor, your top decisions form several primary components

Switches – As the spinal cord of the network, this is where you’ll be plugging all the cables in. Selecting the right switch for your practice is dependent on the amount of traffic capacity you anticipate and the media used, be it fiber optic or cable. Often a network will have both copper cable and fiber optic, and in this case the switch will need to be set up to accommodate both.

Servers – Look for redundancy when selecting servers. Will a redundant machine swap power in the case of the failure of the other? Are there RAID drive arrays so the system won’t crash if the hard-drive does? How much RAM and how many processors does the server system have? More is better. Be sure to choose a backup tape drive device which is big enough to store your information and quick enough to back it all up during system down time at night. Try not to look past the physical setup of your hardware on the network. Perhaps a special housing unit or secure rack should contain the machines; this is particularly the case if you have a series of servers as many EMR system solutions do.

Devices for End-Users – Will you be using client terminals or real computers? Is the firmware able to be upgraded? If selecting thin client terminals, will they need a legacy port? For the exam rooms, will you be using an articulated arm? Our practices uses all of the above, and as a result we’ve come to an agreement about the minimum hardware configuration per device, be it desktop, laptop, server, printer or thin client. These choices have been based upon our expectations of performance. A physician must check in with the IT department before going out to buy a slick laptop computer, in order to be sure it will work well on the network. We examine the network every few months or so to keep in sync with the changes to our system and technology in general. This continual system of maintenance and improvement helps ensure optimal performance, streamlining the need for technical support.

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