Andy Tang Administrator | Thu Jul 16, 2020 | 10:41 AM | Likes: 2 

Building a PC: Choosing the Right Motherboard

Categories: General, Tech | Pubby Cash Received:  10

A motherboard is the main printed circuit board in a computer. It's the computer's central communications backbone connectivity point, through which all components and external peripherals connect. Most computers made today, including smartphones, tablets, notebooks, and desktop computers, use motherboards to pull everything together, but the only kind you’ll typically purchase yourself are those made for desktop PCs. Most people hop right to the motherboard after deciding on their CPU, and there's a reason for that. You see, motherboards come in all shapes and sizes, and that means that some motherboards are designed specifically for Intel chips while others are meant for AMD chips. As you’re deciding on the right motherboard, you would want your choice to hold and last. If you want your PC the way it is, then you can choose a motherboard that provides exactly what you need to get up and running. But if you're thinking of upgrading some parts later on, then you’ll want to make sure your motherboard will support your needs as they grow.

Now that you've decided on the chip, you'll need to know a few things. You'll need to pick a motherboard that uses the right socket and the right chipset. In short, the socket is the mechanism through which a CPU is firmly attached to a motherboard. The chipset is the software and hardware that allows the various components to communicate. Here are some of the most common chipsets and sockets:

So after solving that problem the question now is, which size should I choose? Motherboards come in 3 main sizes, with the standard ATX being the largest, followed by the mini, and then the micro. Keep in mind that while the smaller the motherboard, the cheaper it is, it also offers fewer ports and memory slots, and that might or might not make a difference in your overall experience. Here are the three most common form factors:

So about some of the other components, there are also slots for storage, graphics, memory, power, fans, etc. The list would go on. A good motherboard should have more than enough to meet all of the above requirements. It can be seen that an ATX motherboard would be the best option for gamers and workers alike, despite being pricier, since it can support many components. Especially when it comes down to the RAM, it's crucial to choose the right RAM to fit your motherboard. Today’s RAM plugs into a motherboard via a rectangular slot that’s named for the kind of RAM in use today: the dual in-line memory module (DIMM). The number of DIMM slots in a motherboard determines how much RAM you can add, and it most commonly varies from two to eight slots. You can add one RAM module at a time, but you will get the best performance when you install RAM in matched pairs. Obviously, the larger your motherboard, the more RAM slots it will have....  Read more

Andy Tang Administrator | Wed Jul 15, 2020 | 10:24 AM | Likes: 2 

The "Brains" and "Nerves" of a PC

Categories: General, Tech | Pubby Cash Received:  10

Central Processing Unit

The CPU (central processing unit) is an essential component of a PC. It performs all types of data processing operations, stores data, and controls the operation of all parts of the computer. That sounds like a pretty important and honorable task, so wouldn't it be a shame to lack a good CPU? That's where Intel and AMD, the top CPU manufacturers come in. I'm mostly concerned about Intel's i9-10900K and AMD's equivalent Ryzen 9 3900X. Both are competing as the number one CPU. The Ryzen 9 boasts of 12 Cores and 24 Threads at 3.8GHz while the i9 has 10 Cores and 20 Threads at 3.7GHz. It's not a big difference, but one can see the slight decrease in the numbers for the i9. Just to briefly explain what cores and threads are, a core is a single individual processor (so the i9 would have 10 mini processors put together) and a thread is a single line of commands that are getting processed. Each application has at least one thread, most have multiples. The core is the physical hardware that works on the thread. In general, a processor can only work on one thread per core (CPUs with hyper-threading can work on up to two threads per core).

Now the Ryzen 9 is valued at about $423 while the i9 is at $488. But why is that? That's probably because Intel has better brand recognition due to most PC manufacturers advertising the Intel chips they use. AMD’s processors were only really used in the cheapest computers and practically nonexistent on laptops. When you have little name recognition and an inferior product, your only option to compete is at a lower price. However, despite the extra money, Intel's i9 has a better single-core performance and also uses less power (95 watts compared to 105). Additionally, with Intel's integrated graphics, you'll get both full HD and 4K video and graphical support right out of the box. You'll not only get a great picture for both streaming video and playing the latest games, but you'll get awesome frame rates as well, preventing lag and screen tearing.

Now, let's say we select Intel's chips. Then here's the next question. Is it worth it to get the 10th generation over the 9th generation? The former has 10-cores and 20 threads compared to the latter which ran with 8 cores and 16 threads. Another point to bear in mind is that Intel’s 10th generation chips have introduced enhanced overclocking features, including for example per-core hyper-threading disabling, which may help those who like to tinker and tweak to get the most out of their CPU in certain situations. Comparing the prices, the 9900 is about $450 and the 10900 is about $800. If you already own the Core i9-9900k, is it worth forking out for the 10900k? The simple answer to that would be no, not really. The 10900k’s clock speed bumps are relatively minor, plus the attention-grabbing headline 5.3GHz speed is the potential of dubious value...  Read more

Andy Tang Administrator | Tue Jul 14, 2020 | 10:06 AM | Likes: 3 

Building a Gaming PC

Categories: General, Tech, Gaming | Pubby Cash Received:  0

To buy or to build? That's a question many people ask when getting a new PC. Most people just go to retail stores like Best Buy to pick up their pre-built gaming desktop machine. Not me. These are the reasons why building a PC is superior to buying a pre-built one. 1. Building a PC can save you money It is. Buying just the parts and putting by yourself is far cheaper than having someone do it for you. Those savings could be used to buy better parts such as an additional gig or two for your graphics card. 2. It's really easy to upgrade your parts When you build your PC, you’ll know exactly where each part of your system goes and how it is installed. If you determine that it isn’t performing to your liking, or if you decide you want an upgrade, replacing parts is a simple process. 3. You choose your parts Don't you hate it when you see a gaming PC deal with the latest Intel i9 processor along with 64 Gigabytes of memory but has a crappy graphics card? That's exactly why you should build your PC. Since you get to choose your parts and assemble them yourself, you will have a better experience overall gaming knowing you have the best parts in your PC and not a crappy graphics card....  Read more

Andy Tang Administrator | Sat Jul 11, 2020 | 10:03 PM | Likes: 2 

Should you use Linux?

Categories: General, Tech | Pubby Cash Received:  0

According to Microsoft, there are over one billion devices that run on Windows, and that's no surprise. It's easily compatible with various applications and can be modified to fit your needs. However, there is a less-known operating system that deserves some notice. What I'm talking about is Linux. Most people have a phone but have they seen and understood what's inside the casing. That's what it's like when you use a Windows-powered system. You can download it, install it, and play around with it, but you don't get access to all of the code so it's difficult to understand the software. However, in contrast, Linux is completely an open-source project. You can have a look at the source code of a Linux OS, which is a plus. Additionally, Linux users are less vulnerable to attacks from hackers and other malicious software. It sure isn’t invulnerable, but it is a lot more secure. It is just the way Linux works that makes it a secure operating system. Overall, the process of package management, the concept of repositories, and a couple more features makes it possible for Linux to be more secure than Windows. When you have Windows installed, you'll need to download an antivirus program to keep your computer safe from hackers and malware. And oftentimes, you will be required to purchase a membership or license to continue using the software. On the other hand, Linux does not require the use of such antivirus programs. Of course, a couple of software tools still exist to help you keep your system free from threats, but it is often unnecessary when you have a Linux system. Do you value your privacy? I'm sure you do. That's where Linux takes the stage. Microsoft certainly tries to anonymize the data collected from every user. However, it does not look convincing with Microsoft’s latest Windows 10. It has already received an enormous amount of criticism of how it collects data, what it should collect, and what it should not. Even if you opt-out to send Microsoft information about your data, it is still being collected. Of course, Microsoft will not bother revealing it officially with a press statement, but it surely does. In contrast, Linux would be the perfect solution for a privacy buff. First of all, Linux distributions do not collect much data (or none). Moreover, you will not be needing additional tools to protect your privacy. Now that you know the advantages of using Linux instead of Windows, what do you think? Is Windows still the leader of the systems, or should there be a new election?...  Read more

Andy Tang Administrator | Sun Jul 05, 2020 | 09:42 PM | Likes: 3 

VirtualBox

Categories: General, Tech | Pubby Cash Received:  0

You've known about a working framework, yet have you known about running numerous frameworks in a single machine? Although running Windows on a Mac sounds peculiar, it would all be able to be cultivated with a virtual machine. So what's a virtual machine you inquire? A virtual machine (or often abbreviated VM) is a working framework or application condition that is installed on software, which imitates dedicated hardware. The user will have a similar experience on a virtual machine as they would have on committed equipment. The best part is that there are many free choices for virtual machines out there, with one being VirtualBox. VirtualBox is extremely simple to utilize and set up. Download from their site and make another virtual machine without any preparation. Presently, what's the purpose of running another PC on your PC? VirtualBox empowers you to run more than each OS in turn. Along these lines, you can run software composed for one OS on another, for example, Windows programming on Linux or a Mac, without rebooting to utilize it. Since you can design what sorts of virtual equipment ought to be introduced to each such OS, you can introduce an old OS, for example, DOS or OS/2 regardless of whether your genuine PC's equipment is not, at this point bolstered by that OS. Additionally, once installed, a virtual machine and its virtual hard disks can be considered a container that can be arbitrarily frozen, woken up, copied, backed up, and transported between hosts. It is likewise conceivable to imitate a cell phone with VirtualBox utilizing Nox App Player. Nox will run with VirtualBox and you'll feel like you're utilizing a tablet in your PC. This can be exceptionally valuable, particularly with regards to gaming. Maybe a game you need is just accessible for cell phones yet you don't care for tapping a screen each an ideal opportunity to play it, well Nox App Player is the solution! With VirtualBox, you can do numerous things! Just keep in mind that if your computer has low specs, it might delay for certain periods....  Read more