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Let us discuss the two main quad core computers launched by Intel and AMD. Intel was the first one to launch this computer under the name of Kentsfield, which is also called Core 2 Extreme quad-core QX6700, and it is no less than 80% faster than Conroe or Core 2 Extreme X6800.

The chips of these quad core computers are based on the latest `Core` micro architecture technology. It is not just low powered but also gives high performance. But don`t be fooled into thinking that Kentsfield is a power-saving computer by any means.

This computer with a 2.66GHz chip having a 1066MHz front-side bus (FSB) is ideally suited for those users that require heavy or highly accurate scientific calculations. It is generally used in the fields of actuarial sciences, digital content creation, financial applications and engineering analysis, like CAD. The director of Intel`s operations for digital enterprise group, Mr. Steve Smith, has claimed that this quad core computer will be 58% faster for crating digital content system, and for video, digital audio and photo editing.

To talk in simple words, Kentsfield and other such computers are not meant for ordinary people`s desk. They are more suited for high-tech workstations and desktops. It will not be wise to think that the average customer who needs a computer for general applications like word, PowerPoint, games or internet and etc., will go for a complex, complicated and expensive computer like this. For these purposes, there are many other types of products made by Intel. Apart from this, as you must have guessed by now that this high-tech computer needs a lot of power and this feature makes it practically useless for people on the go. Perhaps it will take some more research and modifications before the quad core computer becomes popular as a laptop.

Intel has launched the mainstream and commercial version of these computers. This computer is known as Core 2 Quad Q6600. It runs at 2.4GHz and it is currently priced at around $210. This budget quad-core computer is estimated to have a somewhat smaller thermal envelope, and will be at 105 watts as compared to 130 watts of the Kentsfield Core 2 Extreme quad-core QX6700.

AMD`s Quad Core computer is built on a 65mn process. They are using a new technology called Silicon-on-Insulator process. It allows faster transistors that have lower power leakage to be easily used and this unique feature helps greatly in reducing wasted heat and power. For more energy saving, each core of this computer is allowed to run at entirely different speeds or can be turned off totally with the help of the new `Enhanced Power Now` feature. This computer is also packed with an enhanced `Crossbar Switch` that enables the users to access different parts of cores at the same time. Some other vital features include the integrated memory controller along with the latest `Direct Connect Architecture 2.0` that allows much faster `Hyper Transport` speeds.

Though these features can extract exclamations of wonder and happiness from any geek but the fact remains that for the average PC buyer, this still means Latin and Greek. Definitely many more core computers using this technology are on their way and will revolutionize the computer industry but it will be some time before people embrace this technology as a part and parcel of their life. Computer makers claim that within a few years the popularity of quad core computers will triple itself.

This article can also be accessed in portuguese from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/computador-pc.php
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

You want a computer, but everywhere you look the prices are out of your range. Someone mentions to you about refurbished computers. Should you look at them as a possible choice? What exactly is a refurbished computer? Well it’s a computer that is left for dead basically by its previous owner. A computer technician has gotten a hold of it someway and they decide that it won’t cost too much to rebuild the computer and bring it back to life, and hopefully make a profit in the end.

Usually there are several websites online that will offer you a “great deal” on these refurbished computers. But if you look at them how do you know your getting a good deal or not? Do you know who the technician was and if they were good at their job? What about the difference in a brand new computer and a refurbished one? These are all great questions.

Let’s take a look at a few of the deals you can get on refurbished computers online. There is an Acer Aspire T690 Desktop available for $399.00, you can purchase a two year extended warranty also. Or also available an HP Pavilion M9047C for $759 can’t really tell if you can get a warranty on that one or not. Or another choice for refurbished is an Acer Aspire Laptop that is $599.99, and you can get an extended warranty on it.

Now if you were to compare that to some of the new computers you can find on the internet, let’s see how they match up. There is a brand new tower from Compaq for $329.99, you will need to purchase the monitor and all with it, and so total price will depend on the monitor you pick out. Or a Dell package deal for $799, which you have speakers, monitor and all pieces needed to go home and hook up. Finally a new laptop price for an Asus laptop brand new you will only pay $399. All of these you are very easily able to purchase an extended warranty on.

Remember some of the most important things to look at when deciding if you want to go with a refurbished computer is the warranty. If the site you’re looking at doesn’t offer you a warranty, it would most likely be in your best interest to not purchase your computer from there. Obviously as stated above when purchasing a new computer you can get an extended warranty for a certain price. Most people think they don’t necessarily need an extended warranty, but you never know when something will happen to your pc making it unusable. You need to get an extended warranty, it’s a must.

Still the real question is do you feel safe buying a refurbished computer? Or will a newer one be your best bet. As you can tell by the prices above, it’s not always cheaper to find and buy a refurbished computer. Really most stores seem to have sales on some good computers all you need to do is watch to see what is on sale.

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Why notebook became so popular? It has been estimated that notebook sales has increased an average of 20% per year in the United States alone. Among the many advantages it offers, portability is one of the main reason people end up making a purchase of it. However before any purchase is made, other features should be considered as well.

Notebook was first made available in the early eighties. Although much heavier and bulkier than today’s notebooks, it had the unique portability feature that put this innovative product in a class by itself. Although not much of a commercial success then, it gave the computer industry a goal to pursue in manufacturing this item with better weight, size and performance ratio and making one of today’s most wanted computer hardware.

Notebook size has got much smaller, however big enough to make one feel very comfortable in handling and operating computer related tasks. One can find it in sizes best categorized as: 1 - Tablet Pc has the size of paper tablet and weighs no more than 4 pounds; 2 - Ultra Portable is a little bigger than Tablet Pc and weighs around 4 pounds, no internal CD or DVD drive, display of 12 inches or smaller; 3 - Thin and Light is a mid-size notebook, 10-14″ x 10″, 1 to 1.5 thick, and weighs around 7 pounds, wireless network capability, 14-inch displays, combo CD-RW/DVD; 4 - Desktop replacement is the largest category of notebooks, more than 12 x 10″ and weighs more than 7 pounds, 15-17 inches displays or larger, wireless network capability, combo CD-RW/DV.

Also an important feature one should look for is performance. Notebooks provide very close performance in comparison with traditional desktop computers, and should handle all computer related tasks with great ease. Whenever purchasing a notebook, make sure it has the latest cpu model, large ram memory and hard disk space. Notebook performance is directly related with cpu clock, ram memory and hard disk space. For these items, big is never enough.

Another feature one should look for is the dvd player. It can come in handy for entertainment purposes, enabling one to watch movies while traveling. Wireless connection is also a feature to look for in a notebook. Some notebooks feature an infrared port, which can be used to connect a mobile phone. Also there are other wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which allows mobile phone, printers and PDA to be connected at certified public and private network. The ability to have a mobile connection is definitely a plus in today’s connected world.

Expansion capability for notebooks can be done thru the use of plug-in pc cards. Although there is a new standard called ExpressCard, which is smaller and faster plug-in card that provides more features for multimedia tasks.

Notebooks have certainly become an item required for one’s mobile computer related tasks, whether it is used for public, private, personal or professional purposes. Its portability and small size make an attractive all around computer hardware item. For those looking for mobile computer hardware, notebooks can certainly become a good solution at affordable prices.

This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the News Article section of page PoloMercantil

Roberto Sedycias has a bachelor degree in Business Administration and over 20 years experience in systems analysis and computer programming. Currently working as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

Runtime errors are generated when computers running certain program applications encounter issues. An example of this is the runtime error code 7. This type of runtime error has to do with “out of memory” problems. Conflicts with the Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs or other open apps, memory issues, computer viruses and software trouble are the main causes of runtime errors.

Dealing With Runtime Errors

Most runtime errors can be fixed. Troubleshooting runtime errors starts with entering the specific runtime error code that appeared on major search engines. Gathering as much info on the particular code will help in finding the appropriate solution for it.

Once more information is available regarding the runtime errors encountered, it’s time to do something. Consider performing the following activities:

* End-task all of the TSRs and other programs that are currently running to ensure that none of these are the culprit. To do this access Task Manager and hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete.

* For issues that have to do with the operating system (OS), consider OS reinstallation, but this is a pretty serious undertaking. In Windows 2000 or XP, a better option would be to try repairs for either Windows 2000 or XP computers. Scanning and repairing files can be done this way: Go to Start then Run. In the field provided, type: sfc/scannow and hit Enter. Make sure there’s a space between “sfc” and “/.”

* If the problem again and again happens with a particular application, visit that website of that program’s developer and download any patches and updates. If there’s none available, consider uninstalling then reinstalling the program concerned.

* Some runtime errors are cause by other plug-ins, add-ons or extra program software that were installed on the PC and are associated with the application generating the runtime error. If the additional program software installed is related to the application generating the run-time error message, make sure there are no available updates for the said programs, or try uninstalling to verify that they’re not causing the issue.

* Update the definition files of the utilized anti-spyware and antivirus programs. Run regular exhaustive bug detection scans as these malware have the ability to cause a number of runtime errors.

* If the runtime errors still persist, the problem might lie with the system memory or it could be a hardware issue. In this situation, it would be best to get in touch with the program’s technical support center for assistance. Contacting the motherboard or PC manufacturer could also be useful.

Issues with memory can often be settled with a simple reboot. But treat reboots as temporary fixes. Reboots clear up the memory, however, if the computer has insufficient memory or hard drive space for the applications being run, users will soon run short on memory again. Check that the hard drive has a minimum of 100 to 500MB free space so the swap file size can still expand.

To find out how much free space a PC has: go to My Computer. Right-click the hard drive (usually drive C:) and then from the menu select Properties and view the capacity of the disk. If the space is cramped, run disk cleanup by hitting the tab labeled Disk Cleanup and following the instructions.

Failing memory chips could also give rise to runtime errors. Taking out the troublesome memory chip and replacing it with a functioning one will get rid of the problem. For other runtime-related issues and errors like installation run-time error messages, consider cleaning out the registry’s flawed or invalid portions using a registry cleaner.

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What is Quad Core Computer? Quad Core computer is essentially a speed demon that allows its user to play high-end video games, run computer programs, and rip DVDs at the same time!

The second generation quad core processor offers multitasking performance with greater energy efficiency. The performance that you get is that of 4 CPUs. Dominating the work of CPU on a single core the quad core CPU allows multi-tasking more easily. The high performance infrastructure application can maximize the virtualization efforts with efficiency. However, the high potential computing power of the processor with four cores can be gained by the use of software that is coded to be multi threaded. The brilliant concept of the software helps the processor work efficiently along with virtually increasing the running speed of the programs.

How to create your own QC Computer:

Buying a Quad Core Computer could be expensive; however, if you are running low on your budget you could build your own quad core computer for less than you can imagine. All you have to do is choose the essential components fit them in your existing PC to realize the speed and your dream QC computer. Here is what you have to buy for turning your home PC into a quad core speed demon.

Motherboard: The choice of motherboard depends on certain things such as whether you choose an Intel or an AMD processor, or what type of graphics cards you use. You need to decide on a motherboard on the basis of your requirements.

CPU: When it comes to the CPU, you are left with two choices, i.e., Intel Version and AMD Version. If you want to go economical, AMD Phenom 9500 can help you save some money which can invest in good graphics cards.

Memory: Choosing the memory is a tad bit tough as you have to balance between price, quality and speed. You can go either with Patriot DDR2-1066 or choose DDR2-800 OCZ Gold Edition RAM which is available in a dual channel 2GB kit.

Hard Drive: Hard Drive decides speed of a quad core computer. While choosing hard drives, focus more on the speed factor than size. You can count on 250GB SATA2 Seagate drive. It won`t let you down.

Video Card: You can`t imagine a gaming rig without good video cards. Whether you choose nVidia or ATI, both offer excellent options. If you want to maintain a perfect balance between price and performance, Saphire Radeon 3870 with 512MB of video memory could do the trick for you.

DVD Drive: Choose a burner that works well for you. Since they are not too costly, you shouldn`t hesitate to invest in a good DVD drive for your self-made quad core computer.

Case and PSU: Choose a case that will endure load and allow air out of it. The good news is most of the cases come with a power supply. Also look at the cooling feature as well. You can go with the Antec Sonata III case that is availabe with an Earthtech 500 Watt PSU.

Cables: Usually, cables come with the motherboard. However, you can check the manufacture`s website to be sure if they are a part of the motherboard box. In case you don`t find cables in the box, you might need an IDE cable for your DVD drive and also SATA cables for each hard drive.

Windows Vista: It doesn`t really matter if you already have a home premium version, you would do well to order 64 bit version if you want to empower your quad core computer with 4GB RAM capacity.

This article can also be accessed in portuguese from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/computador-pc.php
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

Multifunction printers are becoming increasingly popular these days due to their ability to perform many functions at a time. They are not only cost-effective but also space-saving.

If you have a small office or if you are operating from your home office, multifunction printers can be of great solution for your space constraint. It is really exciting for you to find a machine that can print, fax, copy and scan at a time. Many offices that have a shoe-sting budget prefer buying multifunction printers that work for their purpose. Buying a multifunction printer should be an important consideration for you as it involves a lot of research and shopping around as well. Following are a few points that talk about the important aspects of multifunction printers.

Printer resolution:

Printer resolution is important to judge if you are considering about taking picture print-outs. Higher resolution ensures quality prints. For most printing, except photo printing, the resolution of 600*600 will be adequate. However, in multifunction printer the scanner resolution is generally low.

Multitasking ability:

Be sure that the multifunction printer that you are taking truly has multitasking ability. The user should be capable of using it at the same time when the other facets are in use. If all the functions in the machine are not accessible simultaneously, then there is no reason why one should pay for a multifunction printer.

Connection to network:

The multifunction printer needs to have the ability to get integrated into your existing network. If it is easy to deploy with minimum start-up training it is better. While purchasing a multifunction printer, look for the software that comes with it to guide through the process of installation, upgrading or troubleshooting.

Automatic document feeders:

There are some low priced multifunction printers that do not allow automatic document feeder. If your printer does not have that function, you will have to stand by the side of your printer and feed it every single paper. The multifunction printer that holds at least 50 sheets can be considered as a good one.

Total value of the printer and ink cost:

If the printer you buy consumes a large chunk for the ink you will use in it, you will be in a bad deal. A useful multifunction printer can control the cost of your printing and imaging and produce the result effectively and efficiently.

Compatible software and solution:

This is one of the most important aspects that you should consider before buying a multifunction printer. There could be a possibility that the software offered with the multifunction printer may not be compatible. Hence, you should get clear idea about the software that is compatible with the multifunction printer. Your requirements:

Understand your requirements from the printer and buy accordingly. There may be many other things that you want from your multifunction printer beyond printing and copying like reducing paper, managed forms and simplifying work flow. Other requirements like fax, scan, email jobs, number of people sharing the device, color capability, etc are also taken into consideration.

Test before purchasing:

The best thing you can do before buying your multifunction printer is to test it. Make sure that each function works properly in the way they should. There is no harm in asking your dealer for demonstration. Read the instructions carefully before using the device.

Caveat:

Although buying a multifunction printer is a great idea, one should consider individual requirements thoroughly before buy one. If you are running a business where you depend on a photocopy machine quite frequently, you may not benefit much from buying a multifunction printer as it may or may not suit your requirement when it comes to the speed factor. Similarly, if you are looking for high-resolution scanning or cutting-edge faxing features, you have to consider buying a specialized machine instead of going for a multifunction printer.

This article can be accessed in portuguese from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/impressora.php
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br