Hardware
Six spring cleaning tips for all the tech in your life
(Credit: Sharon Vaknin/CNET) Spring has sprung, and while your neglected garage might be beckoning, the tech you use in your daily life could also use a little cleaning love. Over the last week, our How To superheroes put together spring cleaning guides for all the tech in your life.
Last week Apple updated their Mac Pros to cutting-edge processors from 2010, even older graphics cards, and all the USB 2.0 ports you'll ever need. With a proper update unlikely until 2013 , we thought we'd bridge the gap with Hackintoshes—the faster, cheaper Mac desktops you can build yourself with standard PC hardware. By making your own "Hack Pro" you'll get the up-to-date machine Apple won't provide, and you'll also save a lot of money in the process.
Build the Mac Pro That You Wish Apple Released
DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 memories are classified according to the maximum speed at which they can work, as well as their timings. Timings are numbers such as 3-4-4-8, 5-5-5-15, 7-7-7-21, or 9-9-9-24, the lower the better. In this tutorial, we will explain exactly what each one of these numbers mean. DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 memories follow the DDRxxx/PCyyyy classification. By the way, if you are interested in knowing the difference between DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 memories, read our tutorial on this subject . The first number, xxx, indicates the maximum clock speed that the memory chips support.
Understanding RAM Timings
Best Computer Speakers Under 50 dollars in 2012
The best computer speakers under 50 dollars are surprisingly high quality. Because of the recent economic decline on a global scale, many audio tech companies are beginning to produce speakers that people want to buy at affordable prices. To see more Top PC Speakers under $50 click here No longer do you need to shell out hundreds of dollars for a good pair of speakers. At around fifty dollars, you will be able to listen to audio and music all day long without any problems at all. The top 3 computer speakers I have picked out have great customer feedback and are sure to impress you, both in terms of their quality and price.How to: Setup SSD boot drive with secondary Hard disc optimization
OCN Thread of the month - June 2011 "AppData" folder can get huge, and because this is one of the most active folders this is the best folder to move to ensure less random use of the SSD to help it extends its life. quantum tunneling is the achilles heel of SSD technology and why it has a expiration date based on hours used. in other words you can only punch so many holes in silicone. so, moving the "AppData" folder would be the biggest optimization a user can do with Windows on a SSD. Im pretty sure we all knew how to right click on the none hidden folders in the "users" folder far before this guide was ever produced, so please stay on topic. The entire "Users" folder CANNOT be moved with a right click in properties, and that includes the "AppData" (temp internet folder, etc).
The Raspberry PI will supposedly outperform the new iPhone 4S across a range of content. Zoom In an interview with Digital Foundry, Raspberry Pi executive director Eben Upton claims that the little $25/$35 credit card-sized PC will crank out twice the performance of the iPhone 4S "across a range of content."
Raspberry Pi Should Achieve "2X The iPhone 4S Performance"
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming - Download free content from MIT on iTunes
lecture review by Acme410 Good explanations, but when the instructor starts to do examples using a projector, the screen is to washed out to see what he is typing. Amazing resource by -tonmeister-Overclocking
Parts
<img src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/b?c1=2&c2=6257622&c3=&c4=&c5=&c6=&c15=&cv=1.3&cj=1" style="display:none" width="0" height="0" alt="" /> Download the Tom's Hardware App from the App Store The reference for current tech news Yes No
Tom's Hardware: Hardware News, Tests and Reviews
Guide to Building
The editorial team here at Tom’s Hardware has supported new PC builders since 1997 with tips, tricks, and sage advice. Our most complete builder’s guide was published back in 2006. Today’s updates add the best of what’s new to what’s tried-and-true. Even though the computer industry's primary constant is change, there are several " constant constants " to aid builders in component selection. Tom's Hardware Guide has been a primary resource, covering the latest technologies for over thirteen years. Our community members have answered individual hardware questions for nearly as long, both sources working to prevent common mistakes that might ruin a well-intentioned PC project.
Component Overview : Best Of Tom’s Hardware: Beginner’s Guide To Motherboard Selection
Vast PCB real estate allows motherboard manufacturers to pack many features onto a full-ATX motherboard, resulting in a bevy of associated components to consider: Retained from our 2006 article , this Socket 775 motherboard still represents the layout of typical high-end products, allowing anyone who’s unfamiliar with onboard components to use it as a guide. Layout features and details depend on the motherboard’s target market, price point, and a few underlying technologies.4. TIM a.k.a. Thermal Paste - Personal Favorite (OCZ Freeze, MX2 or 3, IC7)
[Guide] Air Cooling Questions Answered Here! (Updated 8/16/10)
Cooling
What better way to wrap up a scorching summer than with a last word on cooling? We explain the most important rules for creating ideal airflow, address the potential effectiveness of side fans, and discuss the finer points of graphics card cooling. At least in Europe, the summer wasn't really all that warm ( Ed. : Yeah, try living in Bakersfield, CA ). But for a PC owner or do-it-yourself builder, the issues of waste heat, cooling, and ambient temperature are always worth thinking about. That's why we're going to start at the very beginning in this, our introduction to cooling.Are you disappointed? Are you frustrated? Are you wondering why your PC won’t game? Before you make a rash decision, resulting in a wrongful upgrade or a new system purchase, you need to know exactly what it means to build a balanced gaming platform. Welcome to one of our most ambitious projects ever; this is Part 1 of a multi-part series aimed at educating PC users on what it means to seek balance in their configuration. Balance is what is often lacking in standard off-the-shelf PCs.
Balanced Gaming PC
Did you think all power supplies were manufactured by the brand selling them? We show you what makes a good PSU and reveal who actually builds PSUs. You can actually find lots of quality, instead of just scrap metal, behind some of the budget labels. Between gobs of reader feedback and our own data compiled over many years, we've managed to put together a fairly comprehensive list of power supply brands and manufacturers. Despite the fact that it consists of more than 150 manufacturers, though, this list still doesn't reflect the entire market, which always seems to be in a state of flux. It can, however, be used as a guide to finding the difference between a bad deal and a bargain.
Who's Who In Power Supplies: Brands, Labels, And OEMs : Manufacturers, Designers, And Labels
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) If you own a desktop computer, you'll need a monitor. The best overall monitor right now is the Dell UltraSharp U2713HM . It delivers fantastic performance on an extreme definition (2,560x1,440-pixel), 27-inch screen, with great ergonomic options, and a useful assortment of connections at $800. If that number sounds too rich for your blood, the Asus PA248Q sells for as low as $310, with a 24-inch 1,920x1,200-pixel screen, ergonomic options, each major video connection, and unique and useful customization settings. Finally, if money is no object and owning the absolute best performer is a priority, the HP DreamColor LP2480zx should be your one and only choice.
Monitor buying guide
Peripherals