Monday, May 24, 2010

VGA Manufactures

VGA Cards - Graphics Card - Video Adapters 
2TheMax3Com
3DFX3D Labs
AbitAcorp
Albatron ALI
Alliance Semiconductor Analog Devices
Aopen Apac
Appian Graphics Artist Graphics
ASKA (Silver Star Technology) AST
ASUS ATI
Advance Logic Research (ALR) Aztech Labs
Azza Cirrus Logic
Creative Labs Diamond Flower Inc (DFI)
Diamond Multimedia Elitegroup Computer Systems
Elsa FIC
Giga-Byte Technology Hercules
Chaintech Innovision
IntelJet-Way
Leadtek Research (Winfast)MANLI
Matrox Graphics MSI Micro-Star
NeoMagicnVIDIA
OctekPC Chips
Pine Group S3
Sapphire SiS Corporation
Soltek Trident Microsystems
Tseng Labs TYAN
VIA Technologies

Friday, May 21, 2010

Install or remove a sound card

Install or remove a sound card

Most new desktop computers come with a built-in sound card that you can replace. If your computer doesn't have a sound card installed or you want to upgrade the sound playback or recording capabilities of your computer, you can install a sound card.

     Notes
  • The instructions here apply to desktop computers. Most laptops have built-in sound processing chips (also called sound processors) but not internal sound cards. You can upgrade the sound on a laptop by plugging an external audio device into a USB port or external card slot, but this is rarely done.
  • Sound processors can also be built into desktop computers. You can't remove them, but to upgrade your sound, you can usually install an internal sound card and turn off the sound processor.

Before installing a sound card, check the information that came with it. The guidelines shown here are general, and the sound card documentation might contain important information specific to installing that card. Also, be sure to check the information that came with your computer to see if opening your computer affects the computer's warranty coverage.

Before installing a sound card, you'll need the following:
  • The sound card you want to install
  • A Phillips screwdriver to open your computer, if needed
  • An empty PCI slot inside your computer, unless you plan to replace an existing sound card (in which case you can put the new card into that slot)

If your sound card came with a CD, DVD, or other removable media, it might contain a driver for your sound card. Hold on to that until Windows has finished looking for and installing a driver. Windows does this automatically after you install the sound card in your computer and turn the computer back on. If Windows can't find a good driver for your sound card, then try installing the driver that came with the sound card. Software from the manufacturer might also include other programs for your sound card.

Most sound cards have at least one line-out jack to connect speakers and a line-in jack to connect an audio input device.

sound card

Sound Card

A sound card (also known as an audio card) is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. Typical uses of sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music composition, editing video or audio, presentation, education, and entertainment (games). Many computers have sound capabilities built in, while others require additional expansion cards to provide for audio capability.


General characteristics

Sound cards usually feature a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which converts recorded or generated digital data into an analog format. The output signal is connected to an amplifier, headphones, or external device using standard interconnects, such as a TRS connector or an RCA connector. If the number and size of connectors is too large for the space on the backplate the connectors will be off-board, typically using a breakout box, or an auxiliary backplate. More advanced cards usually include more than one sound chip to provide for higher data rates and multiple simultaneous functionality, eg between digital sound production and synthesized sounds (usually for real-time generation of music and sound effects using minimal data and CPU time).

Digital sound reproduction is usually done with multi-channel DACs, which are capable of multiple digital samples simultaneously at different pitches and volumes, or optionally applying real-time effects like filtering or distortion. Multi-channel digital sound playback can also be used for music synthesis when used with a compliance, and even multiple-channel emulation. This approach has become common as manufacturers seek to simplify the design and the cost of sound cards.

Most sound cards have a line in connector for signal from a cassette tape recorder or similar sound source. The sound card digitizes this signal and stores it (under control of appropriate matching computer software) on the computer's hard disk for storage, editing, or further processing. Another common external connector is the microphone connector, for use by a microphone or other low level input device. Input through a microphone jack can then be used by speech recognition software or for Voice over IP applications.

Color codes

Connectors on the sound cards are colour coded as per the PC System Design Guide. They will also have symbols with arrows, holes and soundwaves that are associated with each jack position, the meaning of each is given below:


Colour Function Connector symbol
Pink Analog microphone audio input. 3.5 mm TRS A microphone
Light blue Analog line level audio input. 3.5 mm TRS An arrow going into a circle
Lime green Analog line level audio output for the main stereo signal (front speakers or headphones). 3.5 mm TRS Arrow going out one side of a circle into a wave
Brown/Dark Analog line level audio output for a special panning,'Right-to-left speaker'. 3.5 mm TRS
Black Analog line level audio output for surround speakers, typically rear stereo. 3.5 mm TRS
Orange Analog line level audio output for center channel speaker and subwoofer 3.5 mm TRS
Gold/Grey Game port / MIDI 15 pin D Arrow going out both sides into waves


History of sound cards for the IBM PC architecture

Sound cards for computers compatible with the IBM PC were very uncommon until 1988, which left the single internal PC speaker as the only way early PC software could produce sound and music. The speaker hardware was typically limited to square waves, which fit the common nickname of "beeper". The resulting sound was generally described as "beeps and boops". Several companies, most notably Access Software, developed techniques for digital sound reproduction over the PC speaker; the resulting audio, while baldly functional, suffered from distorted output and low volume, and usually required all other processing to be stopped while sounds were played. Other home computer models of the 1980s included hardware support for digital sound playback, or music synthesis (or both), leaving the IBM PC at a disadvantage to them when it came to multimedia applications such as music composition or gaming.

It is important to note that the initial design and marketing focuses of sound cards for the IBM PC platform were not based on gaming, but rather on specific audio applications such as music composition (AdLib Personal Music System, Creative Music System, IBM Music Feature Card) or on speech synthesis (Digispeech DS201, Covox Speech Thing, Street Electronics Echo). Not until Sierra and other game companies became involved in 1988 was there a switch toward gaming.

How does it work?

When you listen to the voice of the hardware, voice, digital data waveforms, including WAV and MP3 transfer to the sound card. Digital data processing of digital signal processing (DSP) digital-analog converter (DAC) of the envelope of the digital signal into analogue signal. This is an analog signal, then amplified through a loudspeaker.

At the same time, when you record a sound through a microphone, an analog sound through DSP processing and analog-digital converter (ADC). Analog signals, and then converted into digital signals. Wave signal, and then save in a table format the disk or compressed into other formats, like MP3 players.


Innovative Sound Blaster X – Fi Fatality Titanium Champion

This new card is suitable for the game. Absolute give a PC gaming audio experience. You can hear the great sound effects and accurate 3D positional audio. To provide gaming performance is very good, which is to provide accelerated audio sound card. Dialogue sounds clear, to provide you with a clear voice communication.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

AMD Processors for Desktop PCs


AMD Processors

AMD processors ignite the next generation of solutions for desktops. Whether it’s playing games, cloud computing or editing home videos, enjoy a better experience with AMD multi-core processors.



Features & Benefits

  • Smoother faster experience, even when running complex software application with native Multi-Core Technology
  • Scaled performance to conserve PC power with HyperTransport® 3.0 Technology
  • Hear your music, not your PC with AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
  • Prevent the spread of certain viruses and strengthen your network integrity with Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP)*




Built from the ground up for true quad- and triple core performance, AMD Phenom™ processors speed through advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, advanced visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.

Features & Benefits

  • Smoother faster experience, even when running complex software application with native Multi-Core Technology
  • Scaled performance to conserve PC power with HyperTransport® 3.0 Technology
  • Hear your music, not your PC with AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
  • Prevent the spread of certain viruses and strengthen your network integrity with Enhanced Virus Protection (EVP)*




Enhance your digital life with the multi-core performance and energy efficiency of AMD Athlon II processor-based desktop systems.


Do more in less time with amazing multi-core performance at a great price

Do more of the things you want to in less time and enhance your digital life with the multi-core performance and energy efficiency of AMD Athlon™ II processor-based desktop systems. Combined with superior ATI Radeon™ HD graphics technology, systems based on the AMD Athlon™ II processor deliver a vivid visual experience, superior multi-tasking, and exceptional digital media performance with next-generation energy efficiency.


Features & Benefits

  • Better Multi-Tasking Means Increased Office Productivity
  • Setting the Pace in Digital Media
  • Get more Power using less Power
  • AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
  • AMD64 Technology
  • Enhanced Virus Protection*
  • AMD Athlon Processor Architecture Performance
  • HyperTransport™ Technology
  • Ready for the 64-bit future
  • Purchase with Confidence



Do more in less time with true multi-tasking

Increase your performance by up to 80% with the AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core processor. Work or play with multiple programs without any stalling or waiting. Dual-core technology is like having two processors, and two working together is better and faster than one working alone.

Features & Benefits

  • Better Multi-Tasking Means Increased Office Productivity
  • Setting the Pace in Digital Media
  • Get more Power using less Power
  • AMD PowerNow!™ Technology (Cool’n’Quiet™ Technology)
  • AMD64 Technology
  • Enhanced Virus Protection*
  • AMD Athlon Processor Architecture Performance
  • HyperTransport™ Technology
  • Ready for the 64-bit future
  • Purchase with Confidence





Simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing

Get powerful performance for your unique digital experience. It's not just about email, Web browsing and word processing anymore. The AMD Athlon™ processor gives you leading performance to go wherever your digital world takes you.

Features & Benefits

  • Enhanced Virus Protection* with Windows® XP Service Pack 2
  • Industry-leading performance for today's software
  • Ready for the 64-bit future
  • Protect investments with a technically superior PC processor
  • Purchase with confidence





Affordable performance for everyday computing

Get to fun, faster, with a system that boots and loads applications quickly and easily. Enjoy reliable, responsive performance on thousands of software applications—including those that let you communicate with family and friends.

Features & Benefits

  • Affordable - Performance
  • Full-Featured to Improve your Computing Experience
  • AMD64 Technology
  • HyperTransport™ Technology
  • Enjoy full compatibility with the tools you use daily
  • Get more value from your PC
  • Reliability from an Industry Leader

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Computer Motherboard

Motherboard

A motherboard is also known as a main board, system board and logic board. A common abbreviation is ‘mobo'. They can be found in a variety of electrical devices, ranging from a TV to a computer.




Generally, they will be referred to as a motherboard or a main board when associated with a complex device such as a computer, which is what we shall look at. Put simply, it is the central circuit board of your computer.

All other components and peripherals plug into it, and the job of the motherboard is to relay information between them all. Despite the fact that a better motherboard will not add to the speed of your PC, it is none-the-less important to have one that is both stable and reliable, as its role is vital.

A motherboard houses the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), which is the simple software run by a computer when initially turned on. Other components attach directly to it, such as the memory, CPU (Central Processing Unit), graphics card, sound card, hard-drive, disk drives, along with various external ports and peripherals.

There are a lot of motherboards on the market to choose from. The big question is how do you go about choosing which one is right for you? Different motherboards support different components, and so it is vital you make a number of decisions concerning general system specifications before you can pick the right motherboard.

A motherboard can come in many configurations to fit different needs and budgets. At its most basic, it comes with several interfaces for necessary components and a BIOS chip set to control setup of the motherboard. Many computer enthusiasts favor one type of BIOS over another and will choose a motherboard partially based on the BIOS manufacturer.

An equally important feature of the motherboard is the type of CPU it will support. Some motherboards support AMD CPUs, while others support Intel processors. If you purchase your case before other components, the first factor to think about motherboard is the size, or form factor. A form factor is a standardized motherboard size.

If you think about fitting a motherboard in a case, there are numbers of mounting holes, slot locations and PSU connectors. The most popular motherboard form factor today is ATX, which evolved from it's predecessor, the Baby AT, a smaller version of the AT (Advanced Technology) form factor. Generally todays computers have ATX form factor motherboard.

Chipsets are a crucial part of a motherboard - they control the system and its’ capabilities. Furthermore, a chipset supports the facilities offered by the processor. A chipset is part of the motherboard, and cannot be upgraded without upgrading the whole board. It is therefore important to make sure you choose the right one for you in the first place.

There are a few main producers of chipsets, which are AMD, Intel, NVidia and Via: The latter two make chipsets for both AMD and Intel processors; AMD and Intel only make chipsets compatible with their own processors.

Another important consideration is the amount and type of RAM the motherboard will support. It is always best to buy a board that supports more RAM than currently needed. If new technology for RAM chips are available, getting a board that supports the newer chips will help future-proof the investment.

The number of PCI slots varies from motherboard to motherboard, as do other interfaces like the number of SATA ports, different RAID abilities, and USB and Firewire ports. As mentioned earlier, sound and video capability might be built-in, although enthusiasts generally prefer to disable internal video, sound and add superior third party cards.

Computer display is an important issue as there are many kinds of graphics cards available these days. Graphics cards vary from PCI or AGP. These days, PCI is ruling the market but one will find that AGP graphics cards are still in use.

One of the best things you can do when looking for a motherboard is to read lots of reviews. They will give you good information about how the board performs and what it is compatible with. Never make a judgement on one review alone and wherever possible ask for recommendations from other people.

Unless you have limitless resources, price is always a consideration when buying computer component. A motherboard usually takes up a fairly large part of any PC budget, so it requires careful consideration. It is worth bearing in mind that cheaper boards sometimes support only more expensive components. If this is the case, work out the total cost of buying the board and components as sometimes it may be worth spending a little more on a more expensive board. A cheap motherboard may be unreliable and more trouble than it is worth. A motherboard is one of those components where it pays to spend a little extra.

Hardware Connection

To function, hardware requires physical connections that allow components to communicate and interact. A bus provides a common interconnected system composed of a group of wires or circuitry that coordinates and moves information between the internal parts of a computer.

Computer Bus
A computer bus consists of two channels, one that the CPU uses to locate data, called the address bus, and another to send the data to that address, called the data bus. A bus is characterized by two features: how much information it can manipulate at one time, called the bus width, and how quickly it can transfer these data.

Serial Connection
A serial connection is a wire or set of wires used to transfer information from the CPU to an external device such as a mouse, keyboard, modem, scanner, and some types of printers. This type of connection transfers only one piece of data at a time, and is therefore slow. The advantage to using a serial connection is that it provides effective connections over long distances.

Parallel Connection
A parallel connection uses multiple sets of wires to transfer blocks of information simultaneously. Most scanners and printers use this type of connection. A parallel connection is much faster than a serial connection, but it is limited to distances of less than 3 m (10 ft) between the CPU and the external device.

Computer Hardwares

What are Computer Hardwares?

Hardware (computer) components, equipments involved in the function of a computer. Computer hardware consists of the components that can be physically handled. The function of these components is typically divided into three main categories: input, output, and storage.


Components in these categories connect to microprocessors, specifically, the computer's central processing unit (CPU), the electronic circuitry that provides the computational ability and control of the computer, via wires or circuitry called a bus.

Software, on the other hand, is the set of instructions a computer uses to manipulate data, such as a word-processing program or a video game. These programs are usually stored and transferred via the computer's hardware to and from the CPU.

Software also governs how the hardware is utilized; for example, how information is retrieved from a storage device. The interaction between the input and output hardware is controlled by software called the Basic Input Output System software (BIOS).

Although microprocessors are still technically considered to be hardware, portions of their function are also associated with computer software. Since microprocessors have both hardware and software aspects they are therefore often referred to as firmware.

There!
That's it. That's basic components of computer hardwares. You can review deeper dreakdowns for each categories by clicking on categories and subcategories on your right hand side. We subdivided each categories as follows.

  • Input Devices
  • Output Devices
  • Storage Devices
  • Hardware Connections

Computer Input Devices

Input devices consists of external devices - that is, devices outside of the computer's CPU - that provide information and instructions to the computer.


Light pen
A light pen is a stylus with a light sensitive tip that is used to draw directly on a computer's video screen or to select information on the screen by pressing a clip in the light pen or by pressing the light pen against the surface of the screen. The pen contains light sensors that identify which portion of the screen it is passed over.

Mouse
A mouse is a pointing device designed to be gripped by one hand. It has a detection device (usually a ball) on the bottom that enables the user to control the motion of an on-screen pointer, or cursor, by moving the mouse on a flat surface. As the device moves across the surface, the cursor moves across the screen. To select items or choose commands on the screen, the user presses a button on the mouse.

Joystick
A joystick is a pointing device composed of a lever that moves in multiple directions to navigate a cursor or other graphical object on a computer screen.

Keyboard
A keyboard is a typewriter-like device that allows the user to type in text and commands to the computer. Some keyboards have special function keys or integrated pointing devices, such as a trackball or touch-sensitive regions that let the user's finger motions move an on-screen cursor.

Optical Scanner
An optical scanner uses light-sensing equipment to convert images such as a picture or text into electronic signals that can be manipulated by a computer. For example, a photograph can be scanned into a computer and then included in a text document created on that computer.

The two most common scanner types are the flatbed scanner, which is similar to an office photocopier, and the handheld scanner, which is passed manually across the image to be processed.

Microphone
A microphone is a device for converting sound into signals that can then be stored, manipulated, and played back by the computer.

voice recognition
A voice recognition module is a device that converts spoken words into information that the computer can recognize and process.

Modem
A modem, which stands for modulator-demodulator, is a device that connects a computer to a telephone line or cable television network and allows information to be transmitted to or received from another computer. Each computer that sends or receives information must be connected to a modem. The digital signal sent from one computer is converted by the modem into an analog signal, which is then transmitted by telephone lines or television cables to the receiving modem, which converts the signal back into a digital signal that the receiving computer can understand.

There are few different types of Modems including...
Analog: 56K (52K top speed) using telephone line.
DSL/ADSL: Top speed can reach as high as 5 Mb in residential using telephone line.
Cable: Top speed about 8 Mb using Cable.
FiberOptic: Can reach 30Mbps depend on your available provider.

Modem is input device as well as output device. So, we will place detaied articles about modems under "Networking" category.

Output Device

Output hardware consists of external devices that transfer information from the computer's CPU to the computer user. A video display, or screen, converts information generated by the computer into visual information.


Display
Displays commonly take one of two forms: a video screen with a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a video screen with a liquid crystal display (LCD).

CRT
A CRT-based screen, or monitor, looks similar to a television set. Information from the CPU is displayed using a beam of electrons that scans a phosphorescent surface that emits light and creates images.

Flat Panel or LCD
An LCD-based screen displays visual information on a flatter and smaller screen than a CRT-based video monitor. LCDs are frequently used in laptop computers.

Printers
Printers take text and image from a computer and print them on paper. Dot-matrix printers use tiny wires to impact upon an inked ribbon to form characters. Laser printers employ beams of light to draw images on a drum that then picks up fine black particles called toner. The toner is fused to a page to produce an image. Inkjet printers fire droplets of ink onto a page to form characters and pictures.

Speakers
Ahh... Gamers can not ignore this category. However, we'll talk about that in later time.

Storage Devices

Storage hardware provides permanent storage of information and programs for retrieval by the computer. The two main types of storage devices are disk drives and memory.

There are several types of disk drives: hard, floppy, magneto-optical, and compact.


Hard disk drive

Hard disk drives store information in magnetic particles embedded in a disk. Usually a permanent part of the computer, hard disk drives can store large amounts of information and retrieve that information very quickly.

Floppy disk drive
Floppy disk drives also store information in magnetic particles embedded in removable disks that may be floppy or rigid. Floppy disks store less information than a hard disk drive and retrieve the information at a much slower rate.

Magneto-optical disc drive
Magneto-optical disc drives store information on removable discs that are sensitive to both laser light and magnetic fields. They can typically store as much information as hard disks, but they have slightly slower retrieval speeds.

Compact disc drive
Compact disc drives store information on pits burned into the surface of a disc of reflective material. CD-ROMs can store about as much information as a hard drive but have a slower rate of information retrieval. A digital video disc (DVD) looks and works like a CD-ROM but can store more than 7 times as much information.

Memory
Memory refers to the computer chips that store information for quick retrieval by the CPU. Random access memory RAM is used to store the information and instructions that operate the computer's programs.

Typically, programs are transferred from storage on a disk drive to RAM. RAM is also known as volatile memory because the information within the computer chips is lost when power to the computer is turned off.

Read-only memory (ROM) contains critical information and software that must be permanently available for computer operation, such as the operating system that directs the computer's actions from start up to shut down. ROM is called nonvolatile memory because the memory chips do not lose their information when power to the computer is turned off.

Some devices serve more than one purpose. For example, floppy disks may also be used as input devices if they contain information to be used and processed by the computer user. In addition, they can be used as output devices if the user wants to store the results of computations on them.

Memory - RAM

RAM is Random Access Memory. It is the part of the computer that processes information. When a program is started it is loaded into RAM to be run.


Inside your computer is one or more slots (usually black) that contain memory chips. Most computers ship with only one filled. To add RAM to the computer you need to find out what kind of RAM (Random Access Memory) your computer takes. The manual that came with your computer's motherboard should have details on what kind of RAM you will need, how much RAM each slot can take and how many slots your computer has. When you receive the upgrade chips they simply snap into the slots on the motherboard.

In Windows, click your START button (bottom left) and click Settings, then Control Panel (In XP, click START then Control Panel). Then click the System icon and look at the info listed on the General tab. The amount of RAM in your system will be listed there in megabytes (MB).

Once the RAM is installed your Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP system will automatically detect the new memory and start using it.

Adding RAM is the easiest, most cost effective way to boost your computer’s performance.

There are many types of RAM: EDO, FPM, SDRAM SODIMM, RAMBUS and more. Your manual or manufacturer should be able to explain what kind of RAM you have and need. If you have a brand name computer a quick way to figure out what RAM you need is to see Crucial's Memory Advisor. Pick your computer brand from the list below and then the model and model number. It will report what type of RAM you need to buy and how much it will cost.

Every computer has a different maximum amount of RAM you can install. Each motherboard (the big circuit board in your computer) has different a maximum. The are a couple of ways you can figure out how much RAM your motherboard can hold. If you still have a manual that came with your computer, there should be information found in there that shows how many RAM slots are on your motherboard, how much memory each slot can take and what the maximum amout of RAM your system can use.

Modem

A modem is a device that converts digital signals from a computer's serial port to the analog signals required for transmission over traditional telephone lines, and vice versa. Modem stands for modulator/demodulator.


Conversion is necessary because telephone lines were initially designed to handle the analog nature of the human voice, not data. Modems provide remote access to machines in the field to eliminate unnecessary site visits and provide fast access to information in the machine.

The speed of a modem is measured by the rate at which it sends and receives data. This is expressed as bits per second (bps), thousands of bits per second (Kbps) and/or Megabits per second (Mbps). The term baud is approximately equivalent to bps.

Some modems have a V number on them to express their speed and features. V32bis modems run up to 14.4 kbps, V34 modems up to 28.8 kbps, and V34plus modems up to 33.6 kbps. The most recently-adopted standard is the V.90 standard for 56 kbps modems.

Telephone lines are the cheapest way of connecting to the Net, allowing connection speeds up to about 56 kbps. No matter what your modem speed is, actual connection speed may be less than the modem's rated speed depending on the quality of the line.

Connection speed may also vary from connection to connection. You can run your Internet connection from your existing telephone line but if you do, be aware that when you are online you cannot receive or make telephone calls using that line.

You might want to get a separate line for the Internet connection or, if you have a fax line already and you don't use it a lot, you can probably utilise this connection. If you want faster connections to allow you to spend less time online, or to make your time online more interesting and more immediately interactive, you can get connected through ISDN, DSL lines or cables.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Types of RAM: How to Identify and their Specifications

How to Identify and their Specifications

There are many different types of RAM which have appeared over the years and it is often difficult knowing the difference between them both performance wise and visually identifying them. This article tells a little about each RAM type, what it looks like and how it performs.

FPM RAM

FPM RAM, which stands for “Fast Page Mode RAM” is a type of Dynamic RAM (DRAM). The term “Fast Page Mode” comes from the capability of memory being able to access data that is on the same page and can be done with less latency. Most 486 and Pentium based systems from 1995 and earlier use FPM Memory.


EDO RAM

EDO RAM, which stands for “Extended Data Out RAM” came out in 1995 as a new type of memory available for Pentium based systems. EDO is a modified form of FPM RAM which is commonly referred to as “Hyper Page Mode”. Extended Data Out refers to fact that the data output drivers on the memory module are not switched off when the memory controller removes the column address to begin the next cycle, unlike FPM RAM. Most early Penitum based systems use EDO.

SDRAM

SDRAM , which is short for Synchronous DRAM is a type of DRAM that runs in synchronization with the memory bus. Beginning in 1996 most Intel based chipsets began to support SDRAM which made it a popular choice for new systems in 2001.

SDRAM is capable of running at 133MHz which is about three times faster than FPM RAM and twice as fast as EDO RAM. Most Pentium or Celeron systems purchased in 1999 have SDRAM.


DDR RAM

DDR RAM, which stands for “Double Data Rate” which is a type of SDRAM and appeared first on the market around 2001 but didn’t catch on until about 2001 when the mainstream motherboards started supporting it. The difference between SDRAM and DDR RAM is that instead of doubling the clock rate it transfers data twice per clock cycle which effectively doubles the data rate. DDRRAM has become mainstream in the graphics card market and has become the memory standard.



DDR2 RAM

DDR2 RAM, which stands for “Double Data Rate 2” is a newer version of DDR which is twice as fast as the original DDR RAM. DDR2RAM came out in mid 2003 and the first chipsets that supported DDR2 came out in mid 2004. DDR2 still is double data rate just like the original DDR however DDR2-RAM has modified signaling which enables higher speeds to be achieved with more immunity to signal noise and cross-talk between signals.


RAMBUS (RIMM) RAM

RAMBUS RDRAM is a type of ram of its own, it came out in 1999 and was developed from traditional DRAM but its architecture is totally new. The RAMBUS design gives smarter access to the ram meaning that units can prefetch data and free some CPU work. The idea behind RAMBUS RAM is to get small packets of data from the RAM, but at very high clock speeds. For example, SD RAM can get 64bit of information at 100MHz where RAMBUS RAM would get 16bits of data at 800MHz. RIMM ram was generally unsuccessful as Intel had a lot of problems with the RAM timing or signal noise. RD RAM did make an appearance in the Sony Playstation 2 and the Nintendo 64 game consoles.


Memory Module and Bus Standards/Bandwith


Module Standard Module Format Chip Type Clock Speed (MHz) Cycles per Clock Bus Speed (MT/s) Bus Width (Bytes) Transfer Rate (MBps)
FPM SIMM 60ns 22 1 22 8 177
EDO SIMM 60ns 33 1 33 8 266
PC66 SDR DIMM 10ns 66 1 66 8 533
PC100 SDR DIMM 8ns 100 1 100 8 800
PC133 SDR DIMM 7/7.5ns 133 1 133 8 1,066
PC1600 DDR DIMM DDR200 100 2 200 8 1,600
PC2100 DDR DIMM DDR266 133 2 266 8 2,133
PC2400 DDR DIMM DDR300 150 2 300 8 2,400
PC2700 DDR DIMM DDR333 166 2 333 8 2,667
PC3000 DDR DIMM DDR366 183 2 366 8 2,933
PC3200 DDR DIMM DDR400 200 2 400 8 3,200
PC3500 DDR DIMM DDR433 216 2 433 8 3,466
PC3700 DDR DIMM DDR466 233 2 466 8 3,733
PC4000 DDR DIMM DDR500 250 2 500 8 4,000
PC4200 DDR DIMM DDR533 266 2 533 8 4,266
PC2-3200 DDR2 DIMM DDR2-400 200 2 400 8 3,200
PC2-4200 DDR2 DIMM DDR2-533 266 2 533 8 4,266
PC2-5300 DDR2 DIMM DDR2-667 333 2 667 8 5,333
PC2-6000 DDR2 DIMM DDR2-750 375 2 750 8 6,000
PC2-6400 DDR2 DIMM DDR2-800 400 2 800 8 6,400
PC2-7200 DDR2 DIMM DDR2-900 450 2 900 8 7,200
PC2-8000 DDR2 DIMM DDR2-1000 500 2 1000 8 8,000
RIMM1200 RIMM-16 PC600 300 2 600 2 1,200
RIMM1400 RIMM-16 PC700 350 2 700 2 1,400
RIMM1600 RIMM-16 PC800 400 2 800 2 1,600
RIMM2100 RIMM-16 PC1066 533 2 1066 2 2,133
RIMM2400 RIMM-16 PC1200 600 2 1200 2 2,400
RIMM3200 RIMM-32 PC800 400 2 800 4 3,200
RIMM4200 RIMM-32 PC1066 533 2 1066 4 4,266
RIMM4800 RIMM-32 PC1200 600 2 1200 4 4,800

How to check whether your computer machine and operating system supports 32 bit or 64 bit?

How do you know if your computer is 64 bit ready?

If you plan to upgrade your operating system from Windows XP 32 bit to Windows 7 64 bit, here are some ways to check whether your processor supports it. First, download, install and run this software (CPUZ) and run Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

CPUZ is a small utility which gives all information about your CPU (Processor), Cache, Mainboard, Memory, SPD etc. Under Instructions from CPU tab, if you see EM64T (if its Intel) or AMD64 (if its AMD) then your processor is 64-bit capable. 

Then, before you go rushing to the store to grab Windows 7 64 bit, you might wanna check your RAM (memory) that you have installed to your motherboard. To fully experience the speed, you need to have 4 GB of RAM or more. 32 bit Operating System could not detect more than 3 GB of RAM (from what I read). If you hvae more than 4 GB, then you could give your computer a fresh Windows 7 Ultimate installation from a DVD.

With the CPU-Z, you can use it to check your motherboard brand (under MainBoard Tab).
Then go to your manufacturer website (mine is Intel) and check what the mainboard can support. Visit this link to view all Intel® Desktop Boards and select the one that it is shown in CPU-Z. If you want to ugprade your RAM (increase more RAM) check your motherboard specification. For example, some mainboard/motherboard can only support DDR2 800/667 but not DDR3.




How do you know if your computer is running OS 32/64 bit?

To check whether your operating system is running on a 32 bit or 64 bit:
Go to Start > Run > Type: “msinfo32.exe” > Hit enter
Then Under System Summary > Look for “System Type” > Mine is x86-based PC
This means my operating system is a 32 bit

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