Buying a new PC can be a tricky affair especially with technology getting outdated in a matter of months now. So here is a simple and short guide I have put together for the relatively not so tech savvy
If SPEED is the first thing you need:
You need a decent MIX of the below, just once component of a super cool spec would not do it.
RAM - atleast 2 GB for Windows Visa , Windows 7 and above but dont over do it, 6 MB of RAM doesn't make things better. 4 would be great and enough if you can afford it.
Processor:
2 - 2.5 GHz is more than enuf, but wait there are other things ..
L2 Cache matters - 2 to 3 MB would be cool, you can go upto 6 MB if you can afford it!
2 core processors are also cool. Its like having 2 processors in 1.
and windows has a problem with handling memory and speed so what ever you feed it there are a lot of CPU cycles wasted .. Windows 64 bit handles it better.
but it comes with a (bit huge) cost. You need a 64 bit processor (the majority of the PCs you see now are 32 bit) and you need a 64 bit Windows OS (more $$$) then you can download 64 bit drivers and stuff.
Finally better go for popular brands since they supply updated drivers for the hardware, drivers drive your hardware.
Internet:
Built in wireless card if it is a Laptop.
Built in Network Interface card for Desktops ( they are standard in most PCs ), Wireless card if you are going to connect to Internet wirelessly.
Video :
You need atleast a 256 MB (video RAM) video card else with the advent of operating systems you are going to end up with a slow computer.
Other stuff:
If a Laptop, make sure you have built in webcam, mic and bluetooth
If you want to hook up your laptop to your Digital TV - make sure the computer has a HDMI out slot. Check if your TV has a HDMI slot as well.
Else the old S-Video should do.
Built in TV tuner card , if you want to watch TV on the computer
Built in (Multi) Card reader would be cool to plug in your Memory cards from your phone , camera etc
Drives:
Blu-ray would be cool as it is becoming the in thing
DVD R/W minimum
Ports:
Plenty of USB ports, atleast 4, and in accessible places, like front of your desktop
Thats about what you need to know, the rest are the usuals
Standard USB Keyboard
Monitor that fits your size needs and budget, higher the resolution the better, but remember you need a decent video card too for higher res to really work.
Normal USB mouse, blue tooth wireless mouse are fancy but they can be a pain disconnecting often.
hope this helps
Showing posts with label Windows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows. Show all posts
Thursday 24 December 2009
Tuesday 22 December 2009
PC power ON problems
1.
You turn on your computer and there's nothing and you hear repeated loud beeps!
What it means :: Hardware trouble you probably need to replace something
Description :The beeps you hear are called beep codes and they are usually associated with a malfunctioning hardware.The type of beep signifies the type of hardware that had failed (cool isn't it?)
Now its not as simple as that, different BIOS have different beep codes ,the two most popular BIOS are AMI and Phoenix.
Their respective beep code info can be found here http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/BIOSBeepCodes.asp
Solution:Once you identified the correct interpretation of the code you will know what is gone faulty and you can replace that hardware, most often its the RAM or Video system failure.
2.
PC gets stuck at the Windows loading screen and there seems to be no hard disk activity (the hard disk read/write light does not flicker)
(Or)The Computer powers on and you see the OS choices menu (if you have more than 1 OS) but gets stuck when you select something
(Or) The Computer powers on and you get a black screen in windows XP
Description :
PC powers on but when I choose an OS it goes into a black screen and there is no hard disk activityTried reinstalling windows, restoring system. This baffled me for quite a while.
What it means :: Hard disk trouble a reformat would help
Solution :
Format the hard disk partition where you have the OS.Reinstall windows and run a good Virus scanner on the rest of the partitions.
CAUTION: Removing or reformatting a partition will delete all of the data that exists on that partition.
You turn on your computer and there's nothing and you hear repeated loud beeps!
What it means :: Hardware trouble you probably need to replace something
Description :The beeps you hear are called beep codes and they are usually associated with a malfunctioning hardware.The type of beep signifies the type of hardware that had failed (cool isn't it?)
Now its not as simple as that, different BIOS have different beep codes ,the two most popular BIOS are AMI and Phoenix.
Their respective beep code info can be found here http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/BIOSBeepCodes.asp
Solution:Once you identified the correct interpretation of the code you will know what is gone faulty and you can replace that hardware, most often its the RAM or Video system failure.
2.
PC gets stuck at the Windows loading screen and there seems to be no hard disk activity (the hard disk read/write light does not flicker)
(Or)The Computer powers on and you see the OS choices menu (if you have more than 1 OS) but gets stuck when you select something
(Or) The Computer powers on and you get a black screen in windows XP
Description :
PC powers on but when I choose an OS it goes into a black screen and there is no hard disk activityTried reinstalling windows, restoring system. This baffled me for quite a while.
What it means :: Hard disk trouble a reformat would help
Solution :
Format the hard disk partition where you have the OS.Reinstall windows and run a good Virus scanner on the rest of the partitions.
CAUTION: Removing or reformatting a partition will delete all of the data that exists on that partition.
PC runs too slow
Your computer becomes slow due to several reasons. I have listed here generalized solutions, that you can try to improve the speed of your PC.
My top issues causing my PC running Windows to become slow was : I had a picture that was ~2MB set as my desktop background, I chnaged it to one ~400 KB
Defrag your system using Windows defrag utility. ( Start => Programs => Accessories => System Tools => Disk Defragmenter )
Disabling unwanted Auto run software's. ( you will see a few in the systary)
Try running scandisk on all your partitions.( Start => Programs => Accessories => System Tools => Scandisk )
Run your antivirus with its latest virus definitions. A virus may be the cause of pc slow down.. ( You can use a good free anti virus like AVG free edition.)
Run your anti spy ware software to find and eliminate any Spy wares installed on your computer. (In most cases this is the real problem)
Un-install all unwanted software's and games. ( Start => Settings => Control Panel => Add Remove Programs ).
If your system has less RAM (Primary Memory), Better add more RAM. a min 512 MB for XP, and 1 GB for Vista and WIndows 7, the more the better!
Delete all unwanted files ( You can use System Mechanic for this ).
Turn off your PC. Open your system cabinet and check for cable loose connection. Some times loose cable connections also cause system slow problem.
Download and update your hardware drivers. Check your PCs website for latest drivers.
My top issues causing my PC running Windows to become slow was : I had a picture that was ~2MB set as my desktop background, I chnaged it to one ~400 KB
Defrag your system using Windows defrag utility. ( Start => Programs => Accessories => System Tools => Disk Defragmenter )
Disabling unwanted Auto run software's. ( you will see a few in the systary)
Try running scandisk on all your partitions.( Start => Programs => Accessories => System Tools => Scandisk )
Run your antivirus with its latest virus definitions. A virus may be the cause of pc slow down.. ( You can use a good free anti virus like AVG free edition.)
Run your anti spy ware software to find and eliminate any Spy wares installed on your computer. (In most cases this is the real problem)
Un-install all unwanted software's and games. ( Start => Settings => Control Panel => Add Remove Programs ).
If your system has less RAM (Primary Memory), Better add more RAM. a min 512 MB for XP, and 1 GB for Vista and WIndows 7, the more the better!
Delete all unwanted files ( You can use System Mechanic for this ).
Turn off your PC. Open your system cabinet and check for cable loose connection. Some times loose cable connections also cause system slow problem.
Download and update your hardware drivers. Check your PCs website for latest drivers.
Windows reboots or shutsdown as soon as you login
If its caused by a virus or a crashing program this might work.
This is a tricky one ... n u got to be quick
Once you are logged in open Start->Run ( or better you can use the shortcut keys windowskey+r)
type shutdown -a and hit enter
The shutdown or restart would stop.
Now open run again and type msconfig and hit enter.
Here under the startup tab click "disable all" and click ok .
Your PC will reboot, upon reboot check if the problem exists, if its gone its one of the programs in the start up, you can find the culprit by checking the paths.
If msconfig does not help try running a virus scan after the "shutdown -a"
This is a tricky one ... n u got to be quick
Once you are logged in open Start->Run ( or better you can use the shortcut keys windowskey+r)
type shutdown -a and hit enter
The shutdown or restart would stop.
Now open run again and type msconfig and hit enter.
Here under the startup tab click "disable all" and click ok .
Your PC will reboot, upon reboot check if the problem exists, if its gone its one of the programs in the start up, you can find the culprit by checking the paths.
If msconfig does not help try running a virus scan after the "shutdown -a"
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