Computer Hardware

Troubleshooting Your Motherboard

The motherboard in your computer is like the heart of your system. Every component that is installed in your computer is powered by the motherboard so if you notice any malfunctioning with the internal hardware it could be due to a faulty motherboard. Another issue with a faulty motherboard is not booting up or getting no power. If you notice either of these issues or any erratic behavior within your system’s environment, you might want to check the motherboard before moving on to other components.

Check Power

If your system will not boot up, you may have a dead motherboard or it could be the power supply has stopped working. Check the power supply before moving on to the motherboard for answers.

Visually Inspect

Look at the motherboard for loose or unplugged cables, jumper settings incorrectly installed, broken or leaky capacitors and check for the CMOS battery to be seated correctly.

Before replacing a suspected bad piece of hardware, test it on another system to ensure it is in fact faulty. Your manufacturer may have special codes or diagnostic tools you can run to help you determine if the motherboard is the real issue or not.

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Parts Needed to Build Your Own Computer

Many people are intimidated by a computer’s internal hardware. It is really a basic procedure to build your own PC, with a little knowledge of the components and what they do, anyone could do it.

The Motherboard

The motherboard is the heart of the computer and may or may not offer integrated sound, audio or Wi-Fi.

The CPU

The CPU you purchase will determine the motherboard you purchase or vice versa. The CPU is the brains of the system and will offer the speed that you are looking for.

The Tower

The tower will most likely be a standard size case, if you plan on purchasing a smaller size be sure that your motherboard will fit properly into it.

Hard Drive

The hard drive is where all your data is stored. You need to ensure that you find one large enough to handle the amount of data you plan to store.

Memory

The memory or Random Access Memory (RAM) will help speed your system up and keep your programs running smoothly. The more memory you install the smoother your system programs will run, just ensure the motherboard is capable of handling the amount you choose, otherwise it is wasted money.

Graphics Card

The graphics card will determine how your images, videos or animations are displayed. For serious gamers look for the more advanced video cards but for basic computer functions the integrated video is usually sufficient.

Audio Card

The audio card determines the clarity and the crispness of the sounds you hear on your system. If you are a gamer, just like the graphics card, you might want to get a more advanced card for features like surround sound.

The components are easily put together and come with full instructions. Your motherboard manual will explain in detail what each slot is for.

Tags: build your own computer, computer parts, parts to build computer
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When To Upgrade Your Video Card

There are many components to your computer and they each serve a very important purpose. Your graphics controller is one of the more important parts of your systems configuration and in many cases will be the first thing that needs to be upgraded.

How Do I Know If My Video Card Needs Upgraded?

Many times when you first purchased your PC you were not planning on using more sophisticated programs or maybe they were not available yet. As technology changes the hardware changes and so does the software. If you are using programs designed for more advanced graphic controllers and have a basic one in your system the programs may not run at all and if they do they will be choppy and the resolution poor.

If you notice that the newer programs you install on your system are not running properly it may be time for an upgrade on your video card.

Other reasons for an upgrade are if you have a bad card. If you are replacing a card that has went bad or is going bad then you might as well look into upgrading the card to a newer one with better features.

What To Look For In A New Video Card

When you are shopping for a new video card you will have various features to choose from. There are many different types of cards so be sure you know what available slots you have open on your system. The other aspects to choosing a card is the connection, speed, memory size and other special features such as 3D or 4D acceleration. The connection is standard a DVI/AGP but you may have a monitor that supports HDMI, if so select that connection to get the most out of your monitor and your card. The memory size and speed on your video card will determine how excellent the graphics are. The faster the memory such as DDR3 instead of DDR2 will help the graphics run smoother as well as look better.

Upgrading your video card on your own is an easy process and requires no real computer knowledge. The card will come with complete installation instructions as well as a CD that includes drivers, special features and bonus software. There is no need to hire someone to install your video card, you can do it on your own as easily as you could make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

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Choosing Hardware for Your Custom Built Computer

When you are ready to build your own personal computer you may be chomping at the bit to buy all the latest and most advanced parts. While this would be great, you have to consider if you can afford it or not. Choosing the hardware for your custom computer takes planning, organization and research. You have to know what you expect your computer to do and what you want from it before you start buying the hardware.

Plan Ahead

Make a chart of what you need the computer to do besides the basic functions. If you are using or plan on using software that has strong requirements, start there as a base for what you need. You can always upgrade the hardware components later if you need to, just get what you need figured out first. If you have extra cash for a more advanced video card or extra piece of memory once you have the cost figured out, then go for it. If you cannot afford the latest and the greatest right now, just get what you have to have to run the software you plan on using right now.

Tags: chossing hardware, Computer Hardware
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