Posts Tagged ‘computer hardware’
Free Computer Benchmark Tools to benchmark computer hardware
Computer benchmark tools, windows utilities that benchmarking your computer CPU, motherboard, Internet connection and much more. Benchmarking your computer system with computer benchmark tools are critical in terms of optimization and troubleshooting your system performance, speed, and stability.
Over here, i have listed down some free computer benchmark software to test out your computer performance in various benchmarking test such as computer hardware benchmarking test, software benchmarking test, hard disk benchmarking test and others.Â
Free Computer Benchmark Tools Download List:
Causes of a Slow Computer and PC Slowdown
Why is My Computer Slow?
What Causes Windows Slowdown?
Here are some tips and free advice on fixing that bogged down PC.
Computer Hardware Repair and Maintenance
What is computer hardware? The hardware components like monitor, keyboard, CPU (Central Processing Unit), mouse and other I/O (Input-Output) devices, constitute a computer. The working of the monitor, keyboard, mouse and I/O devices depends largely upon the CPU. Due to some minor causes like loose connections or dust saturation, either of them can stop functioning. A few troubleshooting tips can be followed to correct such minor errors.
Faults occurring in the CPU are most hazardous, as it has a very complicated structure. CPU is an assembly of the motherboard, hard disk drive (HDD), random access memory (RAM), compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) drive and the floppy drive. Unless you are well-acquainted with the CPU hardware, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint exactly where the fault has occurred. If any one of these components fail to perform, there are a few repair tips that can be followed. In order to view the circuitry inside the CPU, its casing has to be removed.
Motherboard The entire functioning of the computer depends on this component. The processor chip-set, that performs all the logical operations of the PC, is embedded in the motherboard. Ribbon cables, power supply, CPU and RAM are the things to be checked first on the motherboard. Check if any of the ribbon cables or the power supply cord is loose. Check if the RAM chip has been misplaced from its slot. The CPU (chip-set embedded in the board) will not show any marks on the outside if it is blown. The only way to check whether the CPU is working or not, is to test it by mounting it on the motherboard of another PC. The motherboard has a real-time clock, ROM BIOS, CMOS RAM, RAM sockets, CPU sockets or slots, cache RAM slots, keyboard controller, interrupts, internal connectors and external connectors mounted on it. Do not tamper with these components, unless you know each and every one of it well. Do not touch the motherboard without turning off the power.
Get a new one?
Hi Nelly…
There is a few things that can cause this. If a computer says “No Signal” it means it can’t get a video signal from the video card. This could mean that the cables are disconnected from the monitor to the video card, but because you already checked it, we will just continue to the next step.
There is a pretty good chance that there is something wrong with your computer’s video card. Dust can cause a few freaky things to happen, but if you cleaned your computer and the problem returned the next day then it’s probably not dust-related. The only reason I can think this is happening is because of chip-creep.
Swarthmore College :: ITS :: Computer Hardware Repair
Computer Hardware Repair
Hardware Repair Technician Michael Rapp and several student assistants are responsible for the repair and maintenance of over 1000 computer systems owned by the College. In addition, they perform warranty and non-warranty diagnostics of Apple Macintosh and Dell hardware belonging to faculty, staff, and students. Swarthmore is an authorized service provider for Dell and Apple hardware.
Repair of College-owned equipment
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How to Upgrade Computer Hardware
See also my Guide to used laptop prices
Before we talk about how to upgrade a PC, we have to address whether or not it’s cost effective to do so. I measure cost effectiveness two ways. One, can you simply buy a new or better used PC for the amount of money it will cost you to upgrade your current box. You can buy new PCs with XP starting at $100 and Windows 7 starting at $200. Two, will the upgrade really have a significant impact on the user experience (ie, will you be happy that you spent the money). I’ve written about this in more detail on my other site, but I’m going to sum up here in a quick table, with links to illustrated upgrade procedures below. The obvious one I don’t talk about is power supply, because that’s not really an upgrade item, it’s a repair item, since nobody upgrades their power supply unless they need to:-)
Component Cost Range Time Outcome Motherboard $50 – $250 1 hour to 3 hours (depends on Windows) If you’re talking about a PC that’s several years old, upgrading the motherboard with a new motherboard, an inexpensive new CPU in an advanced technology family, and some DDR-2 or DDR-3 memory, is equivalent to building a new PC with a slowish video card (if the bus technology is compatible). You’ll really see the difference, you’ll be in a great position to upgrade the rest, but why not just build a new one from scratch? In any case, the bug in the soup is getting Windows happy with a new motherboard underneath – goes pretty smoothly sometimes if it similar technology or the same manufacturer, but usually it’s a pain in the behind for a newbie. CPU $30 – $300 5 minutes to 1/2 hour (depends on heatsink) The only time it makes sense to upgrade a CPU is if you have a low speed CPU in the same family. If you replace a 1.4 GHz CPU with a 1.6 GHz CPU, you’ll need benchmarking software to see the difference. On the other hand, if you replace a 700 MHz CPU with a 1.4 GHz CPU, it will scream. That’s cheap, the expensive proposition is replacing a 2.4 GHz CPU with a 3.2 GHz CPU. I’d only consider it if you’re a gamer or a serious data cruncher. The CPU has to be a physical match for the socket (which changes every couple years) and explicitly supported by the motherboard, so don’t try it without motherboard documentation, unless it’s in the cheap end of the range. RAM $20 – $100 5 minutes to 15 minutes If your system supports more RAM and you can figure out what kind it is, go ahead and buy all you can stuff in there, at least up to 1.0 GB for Windows XP, 2.0 or 3.0 GB for Vista, and more 4.0 GB for 32 bit Windows 7, 8.0 GB or more for 64 bit. The performance gain will really depend on what software you are running, but it’s cheap, it’s easy, and it does make a difference. Hard Drive $50 – $ 200 15 minutes to add as second drive, several hours to move operating system and all data and make primary drive Your PC was probably built with a hard drive that could take advantage of the interface speed, so it’s unlikely you can jam a new hard drive with a faster interface into your PC, your motherboard won’t be up to it. You can buy a hard drive with a bigger cache or a faster spindle speed, but you won’t notice the difference most the time. You can buy a second identical drive and do RAID 0, which will speed up reads appreciable. However, the only reason I’d upgrade a hard drive is if I needed more space, and I’d probably add it as a second drive. Otherwise, you need to Ghost the original boot drive over, or reinstall everything from scratch. CDR or DVDR $30 – $100 15 minutes to 1 hour (depends on case geometry, software installation and update) If you don’t have a recorder, it’s well worth it, but make sure you don’t buy a “bare” drive, which means no software. Hint: They don’t record without recording software. I would never upgrade to get a higher speed drive, it just doesn’t make a difference. Nobody runs software off discs, you install it to the hard drive. Unless you’re in the production business, record speed is irrelevant. Video Card $50 – $500 15 minutes to 30 minutes (depends on software install) Only if you’re an artist or a gamer. Otherwise, a video card is a video card is a video card. If you’re a gamer, you may even buy two high end PCI express cards to run in tandem, though that can cost you closer to a grand. With video cards for gaming, you pretty much get what you pay for, but make sure your power supply can handle the extra load because these things eat major wattage. Modem $10 – $100 15 minutes to 1 hour (DSL and cable modem can take a while to configure) A 56 Kb/s modem is a 56 Kb/s modem, but sometimes they fail slowly with age, so a new one might buy you a slightly faster connection rate due to a lower error rate. If your ISP makes a change and your dial-up goes to pot, try a new one, they’re cheap. Changing to broadband (DSL or cable) is the difference between night and day. However, the DSL or cable modem may be free, it’s the monthly fees that get expensive. Sound Card $10 – $50 15 minutes to 30 minutes (disabling motherboard integrated sound and installing software can take time) Unless you’re a musician or an avid gamer, there’s very little to be gained from from upgrading your sound card, sound quality is really a function of the amplified speakers. If you’re a gamer, graduating to 5.1, 6.1 or even 7.1 means more surround sound and low end, which can have a big impact on games (or watching DVDs).
I’ve been putting together an illustrated guide for all the basic upgrades you can do to a desktop computer. The first one I did was probably the most common (and the poorest photography since I was just starting the work), and illustrates how to replace a hard drive. This is one of those jobs where the physical installation is pretty easy if you can handle a screwdriver, but if you aren’t just adding a second drive for more capacity, the software setup takes forever. Transferring your operating system from and old boot drive to a new boot drive really requires a third party software solution like Ghost, though many retail hard drives come with a utility to do this for you as a one time bonus. It doesn’t always work.
Things that may slow down your computer – by Leigh Goessl
There are many reasons why a computer may get bogged down and not function as fast as it normally does. When a computer gets slow it can be a bit frustrating.
The good news is it is not uncommon for computers to get a little sluggish from time to time and most of the time it can easily be corrected.
Slowness can occur for a number of reasons; it may be that some nasty malware bugs and files have infiltrated your computer or it could be your computer simply needs some maintenance. Your computer, like your car or any other appliance, needs some tuning up from time to time.
Computer Service Technician Training at Computer Career Institute
Required Courses & Descriptions
CompTIA A+ Essentials In-classroom Instruction ( 40 hours ) Comp TIA A+ Essentials is the newest course and examination from Comp TIA for entry-level IT professionals. In this five-day course students will obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to install, build, upgrade, repair, configure, troubleshoot, and performing preventative maintenance on personal computer hardware and operating systems. This hands-on course is designed to prepare students for the A+ Essentials examination and includes exam practice materials. This course is for anyone who wishes to begin a career in information technology by becoming a personal computer service technician, or who wants to prepare to take the CompTIA A+ Essentials examination.
Personal computer hardware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (September 2009) This article may need to be rewritten entirely to comply with Wikipedia’s quality standards. You can help. The discussion page may contain suggestions. (September 2009)
A personal computer is made up of multiple physical components of computer hardware, upon which can be installed an operating system and a multitude of software to perform the operator’s desired functions.
Though a PC comes in many different forms, a typical personal computer consists of a case or chassis in a tower shape (desktop), containing components such as a motherboard.
- 1 Components
- 1.1 Motherboard
- 1.2 Power supply
- 1.3 Removable media devices
- 1.4 Secondary storage
- 1.5 Sound card
- 1.6 Other peripherals
- 1.6.1 Input
- 2 See also
[edit] Components [edit] Motherboard
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