You may know that RAM (random access memory) is computer memory and that it affects the speed of PCs, laptops and handheld electronic devices. But is there any benefit to upgrading and adding more RAM to your computer?

The amount of RAM in your system is the primary factor in how fast it boots up, launches programs, navigates between them and responds to your inputs. If you have too little RAM for the amount of tasks you ask your system to perform, it will run slowly, freeze or crash.

Upgrading RAM doesn’t necessarily make programs run faster; it lets your system handle more tasks simultaneously. Let’s imagine your computer is a home office. The hard drive is like a filing cabinet where your data and applications are stored. RAM is the desk in your office.

Every time you launch a program, it’s as if you take a file from your filing cabinet and put it on your desk. Larger applications take up more space on your desk. A small desk will quickly run out of space to hold additional files. A larger desk (more RAM) allows your system to run more programs at the same time without performance lag.

When you don’t have enough RAM to support all the programs you want to run, your computer will file away what you’re not actively using to make room to run the new application. Let’s say you’re surfing the Internet when you launch Photoshop. Because Photoshop is a large program, it requires a lot of RAM to run.

If your computer doesn’t have enough RAM to run both Photoshop and an Internet browser, the system will push the files for the browser out of RAM and onto your hard drive. When you navigate back to your browser, the system has to retrieve the data from the hard drive to re-launch your Web-surfing capability.

This process takes longer than accessing a program that’s actively running. If you have enough RAM to run both applications, your system can leave the Internet browser fully functioning while you use Photoshop, allowing you to use both applications.

Every time your system has to dump data from RAM to make room for something else, or go to the hard drive to retrieve data to run a program, it takes time. This leads to a less responsive system. If you instruct your system to launch an application that it can’t support, it may crash — imagine the desk in the office scenario buckling under the weight of too many files.

Most applications instruct your system to automatically launch certain files from their program every time you start your computer. This makes it faster for the program to load when you select it. However, having multiple programs launch to your RAM simultaneously slows your system’s boot-up if you don’t have enough RAM.

When buying a new computer, few people purchase enough RAM to accommodate their future use. Software writers expect that systems will support progressively larger amounts of RAM in the future, so they often write bulkier programs that require more resources to run. As you install system and program updates, the applications grow larger. Suddenly, the RAM that was more than sufficient when you bought your system is now lacking.

After nearly a decade in the computer-repair business, I’ve never had anyone complain that his or her computer had too much RAM. The most common grievance: a slow, unresponsive system. RAM is the most noticeable upgrade for the average user. Luckily, it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to add more RAM to your computer or laptop, resulting in a good bang for your buck compared to other hardware upgrades.

Source:http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/05/22/ram-upgrade-lets-computer-handle-more-tasks-once

The Lenovo ThinkStation E31 mini-tower and small form factor (SFF) variants were recently announced by the Beijing-based manufacturer. These compact rigs are said to be designed to maintain a PC-like budget while still being high on performance and productivity.

Aimed towards professionals seeking a low-cost, but efficient system, these new Thinkstation builds will be filed under the entry-level segment. So what do they pack in? Firstly, there are options from some of the latest Intel processors, the Xeon E3 1200 v2 and third generation Core i7. Both CPUs can be combined with either the integrated HD Graphics P4000 or the Nvidia Quadro family up to the Q4000 in the tower version and Q600 in the SFF one.

“The ThinkStation E31 an ideal choice for small-to-medium businesses or professionals that need more power and performance than they are getting out of their desktop computer,” commented Robert Herman, director of product and vertical solutions, Workstation Business Unit, Lenovo. “We have worked closely with customers to figure out how to deliver compact design, reliable hardware components and comprehensive support for the latest ISV applications to meet their needs. The ThinkStation E31 offers businesses a powerful way to get more from their business applications without breaking the bank.”

The new workstations come with 1600MHz of DDR3 ECC RAM that’s apparently capable of correcting memory-related failures. It even proffers better responsiveness in applications and swift multitasking. Along with the Windows 7 Professional edition platform, the manufacturer has thrown in a couple of USB 3.0 ports as well as up to 9TB of storage in the tower version and a maximum of 6TB for the SFF variant.

The Lenovo ThinkStation E31 release date is scheduled for July 13, 2012. For price details, both mini-tower and SFF variants will be available for approximately $629 through Lenovo business partners and the company’s website.

Source:http://www.techshout.com/hardware/2012/14/lenovo-thinkstation-e31-aims-to-be-small-in-size-high-on-performance/

Yeah, an optical drive. You know, for folks who still appreciate the passing fads of life. Bitterness aside, Commodore is following up its retro-fabulous C64x with a new small-form-factor PC, the Amiga Mini. While not much of a looker, this box houses a potent 3.5GHz Core i7-2700k CPU, 16GB of DDR3 memory, NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 430 (1GB), a WiFi radio and a 1TB HDD that can be swapped out for a 300GB or 600GB solid state drive. There’s a slot-loading Blu-ray drive by default, internal space for a pair of 2.5-inch drives and a predictable Amiga logo burned right onto the front panel. Unfortunately, the well-specced base model tips the pricing scales at $2,495, but that does include a copy of its Commodore OS Vision. The company’s also revealing the C64x Supreme, the new VIC mini and a more powerful VIC-Slim keyboard computer (which now includes an HDMI output), all detailed in the presser past the break.

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/commodore-amiga-mini-pc-revealed-core-i7-16gb-of-ram-and-an-op/

There’s a new tablet in town (well, on its way to town, at least) called the Spark. The Linux-based tablet, based on the Zenithink C71, was announced several days ago, but the fellow behind the project, KDE developer Aaron Seigo, released more details on his blog in a convenient Q&A format.

He revealed that the tablet (about $265 USD) will be available for pre-order this week and will start shipping worldwide in May. In terms of specifications, the 7-inch (800×480) multi-touch tablet will run a 1GHz AMLogic ARM processor and Mali-400 GPU and sport 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage (with a microSD slot for expandability), 802/11b/g WiFi, a pair of USB ports, a front-facing 1.3MP webcam, and an audio jack.

There are plans to add 3G and GPS functionality in later versions of the tablet, as well as beefed-up hardware specs. The UI of choice is Plasma Active, and there will apparently be a content store where developers can peddle their wares and users can snag software.

The Spark project isn’t just some cheap tablet being churned out half-heartedly by a company looking to cash in on the latest tech craze. This looks to be a labor of love for Seigo and others behind Spark, and it’s rooted in their ideology.

“The people who get to use these tablets will have in their hands a device that is more than an application bucket that sees them as a consumer,” said Seigo in the original blog post announcing Spark. “They will have a device that places value on who they are and what they are doing. This lies at the heart of Activities in Plasma Active and the open software stack will drive that trend further. Perhaps best of all: there’s no walled garden to get locked into or which can be taken away.”

Spark isn’t likely to suddenly glom tablet market share away from Apple and Google, but competition of any kind is good for consumers, and this particular project presents an attractive tablet alternative to those who chafe at what industry behemoths offer.

Seigo also noted that the tablet will indeed blend, although that would void the warranty.

Source:http://hothardware.com/News/Details-Emerge-About-the-Spark-LinuxBased-Tablet/

The CPU design firm Venray Technology announced a new product design this week that it claims can deliver enormous performance benefits by combining CPU and DRAM on to a single piece of silicon. We spent some time earlier this fall discussing the new TOMI (Thread Optimized Multiprocessor) with company CTO Russell Fish, but while the idea is interesting; its presentation is marred by crazy conceptualizing and deeply suspect analytics.

The Multicore Problem:

There are three limiting factors, or walls, that limit the scaling of modern microprocessors. First, there’s the memory wall, defined as the gap between the CPU and DRAM clock speed. Second, there’s the ILP (Instruction Level Parallelism) wall, which refers to the difficulty of decoding enough instructions per clock cycle to keep a core completely busy. Finally, there’s the power wall–the faster a CPU is and the more cores it has, the more power it consumes.

Attempting to compensate for one wall often risks running afoul of the other two. Adding more cache to decrease the impact of the CPU/DRAM speed discrepancy adds die complexity and draws more power, as does raising CPU clock speed. Combined, the three walls are a set of fundamental constraints–improving architectural efficiency and moving to a smaller process technology may make the room a bit bigger, but they don’t remove the walls themselves.

TOMI attempts to redefine the problem by building a very different type of microprocessor. The TOMI Borealis is built using the same transistor structures as conventional DRAM; the chip trades clock speed and performance for ultra-low low leakage. Its design is, by necessity, extremely simple. Not counting the cache, TOMI is a 22,000 transistor design, as compared to 30,000 transistors for the original ARM2. The company’s early prototypes, built on legacy DRAM technology, ran at 500MHz on a 110nm process.

Instead of surrounding a CPU core with a substantial amount of L2 and L3 cache, Venray inserted a CPU core directly into a DRAM design. A TOMI Borealis core connects eight TOMI cores to a 1Gbit DRAM with a total of 16 ICs per 2GB DIMM. This works out to a total of 128 processor cores per DIMM. Because they’re built using ultra-low-leakage processes and are so small, such cores cost very little to build and consume vanishingly small amounts of power (Venray claims power consumption is as low as 23mW per core at 500MHz).

It’s an interesting idea.

The Bad:

When your CPU has fewer transistors than an architecture that debuted in 1986, it’s a good chance that you left a few things out–like an FPU, branch prediction, pipelining, or any form of speculative execution. Venray may have created a chip with power consumption an order of magnitude lower than anything ARM builds and more memory bandwidth than Intel’s highest-end Xeons, but it’s an ultra-specialized, ultra-lightweight core that trades 25 years of flexibility and performance for scads of memory bandwidth.

The last few years have seen a dramatic surge in the number of low-power, many-core architectures being floated as the potential future of computing, but Venray’s approach relies on the manufacturing expertise of companies who have no experience in building microprocessors and don’t normally serve as foundries. This imposes fundamental restrictions on the CPU’s ability to scale; DRAM is manufactured using a three layer mask rather than the 10-12 layers Intel and AMD use for their CPUs. Venray already acknowledges that these conditions imposed substantial limitations on the original TOMI design.

Of course, there’s still a chance that the TOMI uarch could be effective in certain bandwidth-hungry scenarios–but that’s where the Venray Crazy Train goes flying off the track.

Let’s start here. In a graph like this, you expect the two bars to represent the same systems being compared across three different characteristics. That’s not the case. When we spoke to Russell Fish in late November, he pointed us to this publicly available document and claimed that the results came from a customer with 384 2.1GHz Xeons. There’s no such thing as an S5620 Xeon and even if we grant that he meant the E5620 CPU, that’s a 2.4GHz chip.

The “Power consumption” graphs show Oracle’s maximum power consumption for a system with 10x Xeon E7-8870s, 168 dedicated SQL processors, 5.3TB (yes, TB) of Flash and 15x 10,000 RPM hard drives. It’s not only a worst-case figure, it’s a figure utterly unrelated to the workload shown in the Performance comparison. Furthermore, given that each Xeon E7-8870 has a 130W TDP, ten of them only come out to 1.3kW–Oracle’s 17.7kW figure means that the overwhelming majority of the cabinet’s power consumption is driven by components other than its CPUs.

From here, things rapidly get worse. Fish makes his points about power walls by referring to unverified claims that prototype 90nm Tejas chips drew 150W at 2.8GHz back in 2004. That’s like arguing that Ford can’t build a decent car because the Edsel sucked.

After reading about the technology, you might think Venray was planning to market a small chip to high-end HPC niche markets… and you’d be wrong. The company expects the following to occur as a result of this revolutionary architecture (organized by least-to-most creepy):

* Computer speech will be so common that devices will talk to other devices in the presence of their users.
* Your cell phone camera will recognize the face of anyone it sees and scan the computer cloud for backround red flags as well as six degrees of separation
* Common commands will be reduced to short verbal cues like clicking your tongue or sucking your lips
* Your personal history will be displayed for one and all to see…women will create search engines to find eligible, prosperous men. Men will create search engines to qualify women. Criminals will find their jobs much more difficult because their history will be immediately known to anyone who encounters them.
* TOMI Technology will be built on flash memories creating the elemental unit of a learning machine… the machines will be able to self organize, build robust communicating structures, and collaborate to perform tasks.
* A disposable diaper company will give away TOMI enabled teddy bears that teach reading and arithmetic. It will be able to identify specific children… and from time to time remind Mom to buy a product. The bear will also diagnose a raspy throat, a cough, or runny nose.

Conclusion:

Fish has spent decades in the microprocessor industry–he invented the first CPU to use a clock multiplier in conjunction with Chuck H. Moore–but his vision of the future is crazy enough to scare mad dogs and Englishmen.

His idea for a CPU architecture is interesting, even underneath the obfuscation and false representation, but too practically limited to ever take off. Google, an enthusiastic and dedicated proponent of energy efficient, multi-core research said it best in a paper titled “Brawny cores still beat wimpy cores, most of the time.”

“Once a chip’s single-core performance lags by more than a factor to two or so behind the higher end of current-generation commodity processors, making a business case for switching to the wimpy system becomes increasingly difficult… So go forth and multiply your cores, but do it in moderation, or the sea of wimpy cores will stick to your programmers’ boots like clay.”

Source:http://hothardware.com/News/CPU-Startup-Combines-CPUDRAMAnd-A-Whole-Bunch-Of-Crazy/

If you spot a good deal on DRAM and could use an upgrade, you may want to pull the trigger rather than wait and hope prices will fall even further. According to Adata CEO Simon Chen, DRAM prices are likely to rebound in January 2012, mostly because of cuts in DRAM output made earlier in the year. The effects of those cuts are about to take effect, especially as PC makers get ready to replenish their inventories, Chen warns.

Chen was also quick to point that Adata is one of two companies that kept a steady focus on DRAM modules (Kingston is the other), while most other companies shifted the bulk of their operations away from system memory in order to focus on NAND flash memory for SSDs and other more stable markets.

Adata might also be making a mountain out of a mole hill here. DRAM is almost as inexpensive as tap water, so even if prices go up next month, it probably won’t be enough to sway most users out of making a purchase. On the flip side, the timing is crummy, as hard drive prices are also higher these days, though for a different reason (flooding in Thailand).

Source:http://hothardware.com/News/Brace-Yourself-for-Higher-RAM-Prices-Adata-Says/

Feel like getting drunk with DRAM? Want to have the ultimate memory bragging rights? If you look up the definition of “overkill” in the dictionary, do you want to see a picture of your motherboard in there? Answer ‘yes’ to all three questions and you’re a prime candidate for MSI’s X79A-GD45 (8D) motherboard, a slice of silicon with support for an insane amount of quad-channel memory, or more specifically, up to 128GB.

No, that’s not a typo, at least not on our part. According to MSI, this board’s eight DIMM slots support up to 128GB of RAM, likely far more than you’ll ever need for the life of your system. It’s an absolutely crazy proposition for the average user, but for power users who do more than dabble in photography, CAD design, and other types of memory-heavy content creation, this is a consumer-level board with a professional-level work ethic.

The rest of the feature-set is almost standard fare by comparison, and only by comparison. It has five PCI Express x16 slots, a single PCI-E x1 slot, a par of SATA 6Gbps ports, four SATA 3Gbps ports, RAID 0/1/5/10 support, a GbE LAN port, two rear-mounted USB 3.0 ports, six rear-mounted USB 2.0 ports, audio inputs, and other odds and ends, including MSI’s Military Class III components, UEFI BIOS, THX TruStudio PRO sound, and an assortment of proprietary utilities.

Source:http://onlyhardwareblog.com/wp-admin/edit.php?s=MSI%27s+X79A-GD45+Motherboard+Supports+128GB+of+RAM!&post_status=all&mode=list

As you may have heard, booting in Windows 8 is a lot quicker compared with other existing version. Microsoft is going to revamp the whole cold start procedure and change some elements along the way, making the computer always store vital elements and reactivate them as and when you push that power ON button. It is said that the new OS will be able to boot in around ten seconds, clearly setting a new standard for competitors. Of course, there is one Google Chrome laptop that can fire up in 9 seconds but the OS is still an underdog at this point.

Today, we are going to show you three reasons why Windows 8 boots faster, explaining what Microsoft tweaked under the hood of this upcoming operating system.

Before I start, let me tell you a short story. I recently encountered a case where a guy experienced some heavy problems with his computer (it rebooted like crazy) and did not possess the money or the time to replace the hardware. And considering that his configuration was so low, he did not want just to fix it, he wanted to buy a full state of the art computer.

So, to save money and still use its PC until he has enough, he optimized the boot sequence to a great extent. To get an idea, his computer now uses Windows XP and boots in 13 seconds. On the other side, my slowpoke laptop, running on Win 7, takes exactly 1 minute from the push of the button to the point where the desktop appears.

1. Redesigning the “cold start”: The key reason why Windows 8 boots that fast is the fact that some vital processes are not turned off when the computer is going offline. You can see the power off process more like a hibernation mode, where the kernel files are the only one kept in stand-by. When the user wishes to fire up the machine, these files are already loaded and thus the whole process takes less time.

2. Remaking the starting sequence: As you can see from the image below, the system now checks for hibernating files right after the pre-boot sequence, instead of simply loading these files along the way as in the classic Win 7 mode.

3. Using the RAM to store hibernating files: All the kernel files saved through hibernation will be stored in the RAM section, allowing even faster read / write times than other locations. As developers say, the maximum percentage reserved for the sequence is 75%, but a normal user will only use 10-15% percent.

Source:http://www.itproportal.com/2011/12/13/3-reasons-why-windows-8-boots-faster/

Boasting, are we? Corsair has just announced that a new overclocking world record has been set. One that apparently shatters the previous memory frequency world record with a custom-built liquid nitrogen cooled system. The record? They hit a memory frequency of 1733.8MHz (DDR3-3467) using Corsair Dominator GT CMGTX6 extreme-performance DDR3 memory.

World champion overclocker and Corsair employee Jake “Planet” Crimmins set the new record at Corsair’s laboratory with a custom-designed, liquid nitrogen cooled PC based on an AMD FX-8150 processor and equipped with 1GB of Dominator GT extreme-performance DDR3 memory. The system was powered by a Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 fully modular power supply.

“Breaking overclocking world records requires skill, ingenuity, and the right equipment,” said Jake Crimmins. “I’ve broken several records using Dominator GT memory. It’s reliable, it has amazing headroom, and it’s never let me down.” So, anyone placing bets on how long the record stands?

Source:http://hothardware.com/News/Corsair-Smokes-World-Record-With-Dominator-GT-CMGTX6-RAM/

Maximising PC performance has always been a prime concern of PC users with several DIYs and free advice available everywhere. That being said, this age old problem has been plagued with certain myths as well. While there are certain ways to really speed up the PC, a few others don’t have any effect whatsoever. We will try to put the matter to rest once and for all in this article, where we will list some of the biggest myths about making your PC faster, and then cap off with some of the tried and tested ways.

Let us start off with some of the myths about bettering your PC performance.

1) More RAM Means Faster Performance
While this used to be the case a few years ago during the age of Windows 95, 98, and XP, it is no longer relevant. PCs and laptops these days usually come with at least 2 GB of RAM and tests reveal that adding more does nothing to improve performance, unless you have a gaming PC with a 64-bit OS. More important than the amount of RAM is how it is distributed across memory channels. A dual channel or triple channel configuration with less RAM is always faster than a single channel configuration with a huge RAM module.

2) More Cores Means Faster Performance
Not necessarily. Two cores are more than sufficient for most computing tasks, and going for more is usually a waste of money, unless you use one of those few applications that are written to make use of more than two cores.

3) Disable Anti-virus And Anti-malware Applications
Once again, this was true a few years ago when processing power was expensive. However, with most computers and laptops coming with multi-core processors having commendable processing power, it is no longer necessary to disable anti-virus and anti-malware applications running in the background. The new processors are more adept at handling multiple tasks at the same time.

4) Use Registry Optimisation Programs
Registry optimisation programs do not improve performance in a measurable way, although they do help old computers get minor speed boost. That being said, these programs help you get rid of redundant application entries and cut down on the registry size, but performance boost is not one of those benefits.

5) Clear Browser History, Empty Cache To Gain Speed In Web Browsing
Clearing browser history removes only the records about your browsing, while clearing cookies does nothing to improve performance as these tiny cookies don’t sit in memory, but only inform the websites when you visit them again. Emptying cache on the other hand can actually slow down web browsing because the browser has to re-download everything, rather than just updating the changed content.

Here are some of the tried and tested ways in which your PC will surely get that much needed kick.

1) Run Chkdsk Disk Repairing Utility
Your operating system and data resides on your hard drive. Over a period of time and due to certain other factors such as an improper shutdown of the PC, the hard drive may develop defective areas from which it becomes difficult or impossible to read the data. If this data happens to be related to the operating system, then your PC might take a very long time to boot. Such problems can usually be fixed by running a disk checking tool.

Open Windows Explorer, right-click on the C drive, click on Tools tab, and click on “Check now” button to launch this utility. Make sure to check both the boxes in this window and click on Start. This process takes some time, depending on the size of your drive and the amount of data present on it. You are advised to not work on the PC while the scan is in progress. If the drive is locked, such as when it is the host drive, you will be informed that the disk will be scanned upon Windows restart. Confirm and restart your computer to start the process. Repeat for other drives as well.

For those of you who are geeky, there is a command line Chkdsk utility, which can simply be run from the Run dialogue box. Press WINDOW + R key combination and enter “Chkdsk C:” without the quotes and press ENTER to scan the C drive, which is usually the host drive. Repeat this for other drives.

While the above method is your best bet at fixing hard drive issues and it will even patch bad sectors so that data will no longer be written to them, you are advised to start looking for a new hard drive in case bad sector formation is determined as the cause of your woes.

2) Clean Up Unnecessary Data
It is a fact that the PC performance slows down as you keep on installing programs. The second step in PC performance optimisation is to remove all the unwanted programs, which you never really use. You can do this through the Control Panel, where you will find the Uninstall a program link under Programs.

Next, you must remove all the temporary files lying around the hard drive. While it is almost impossible to locate them manually, Windows provides a tool to take care of that known as Disk Cleanup. You can find this in the System Tools folder inside Accessories. Choose the drive to be cleaned up and press OK. This utility will scan the disk and prompt you to decide upon the files to be deleted; you can safely opt to delete all the files it comes up with.

3) Defragment Your Hard Drive
Once the disk has been checked for its data integrity in the previous step and all unwanted data is removed, you can run the Disk Defragmenter utility to gather scattered files on the hard drive and organise them in such a way that they can be accessed faster. Open Windows Explorer, right-click on the C drive, click on Tools tab, and click on “Defragment now” button to launch this utility. Make sure to check both the boxes in this window and click on Start. You can defragment all the drives, but it is more important to run the process on the C drive to gain a performance boost. Disk Defragmenter can also be scheduled to run at a designated time and day every week, so you should take advantage of it and schedule it at a time when you don’t work on the PC.

4) Install The Latest Drivers
Most hardware manufacturers keep updating the device drivers for their hardware to get rid of known issues. It is therefore always a good idea to periodically update and install the latest drivers for your PC hardware. Using Windows Update is likely to help you, but it is better to check out the manufacturer’s website to stay better informed.

5) Install An SSD
An SSD or Solid State Drive can do wonders to your PC performance. The advantage of an SSD is that the performance almost never degrades even after months or years of usage. The issue of data fragmentation also does not exist on SSDs. Of course, there are other advantages such as lower power consumption and better resistance to shock due to the absence of moving parts. A relatively higher price is the only factor working against SSDs at present. You can opt for a small 30 GB SSD as your boot drive to get the desired performance boost without spending too much.

So there you are; five tested facts and five debunked myths about PC performance. If you have anything more to add to the list, feel free to write in the comments section below.

Source:http://www.techtree.com/India/Features/Facts_And_Myths_About_PC_Performance/551-116108-899.html

Adding more memory to your PC or laptop is one of the most cost-effective means of boosting its performance. PC Advisor looks at how to choose the right RAM and avoid installation issues.

How choose and install the right RAM

Now is a good time to upgrade your computer’s RAM. Most PCs are sold with 64bit operating systems. Software is more memory-intensive than ever, and 64bit programs and games are shipping. Memory prices have also dropped substantially.

Buying the right memory isn’t as easy as it used to be, however. Most current desktop PCs use DDR3 memory, but some older systems use DDR2. The situation is similar with laptops. Check your manufacturer’s manual to find out which type of memory you need.

You can also use Belarc Advisor – an online tool that takes an inventory of your setup and suggests suitable components for it. Kingston Technology and Crucial both offer RAM and SODIMM (laptop memory module) upgrade advice, based on the brand and model of your PC.

When upgrading desktop systems, memory speed and timing can be an issue. Many motherboards are unable to simultaneously run modules in each of their memory sockets at full-speed. One strategy is to buy modules a speed grade higher than the motherboard supports, then dial them down. We once ran an X58 motherboard with 12GB of DDR3 RAM; it had six 1,600MHz modules running at 1,333MHz.

Choosing laptop memory modules is a little easier, if you know the rated speed and capacity. Laptop motherboards generally support no more than two memory modules, although a few models have three sockets.

Whether it’s a laptop or a desktop PC, a general rule of thumb is to stick to the same capacity for each memory channel. For a dual-channel PC with four memory sockets, for example, it’s fine to have two 2GB modules and two 4GB modules. However, you must ensure that each pair of matching modules is installed in sockets for the same memory channel.

Upgrading desktop PC memory

Set the PC on an elevated platform, such as a table or workbench. It’s much easier to work inside the case if you have lots of elbow room. Clear all the wiring and clutter from around the DRAM sockets.

Confirm that you have the correct module types for your desktop PC. You don’t want to insert DDR3 modules into DDR2 sockets.

Most memory sockets have two locking tabs on either side that flip down to release memory modules for removal. Some motherboards may have a locking tab on only one side. If you’re replacing old modules with new memory, unlatch one or both tabs to release and lift out the old module.

Your graphics card or CPU cooling fan may crowd the memory socket to the point that you can’t remove or insert memory. In this case, you’ll need to carefully remove the offending items first.

Never handle DRAM modules by their gold-plated contacts. When inserting new modules, make sure the locking tab or tabs are completely open.

To ensure you’re inserting the new RAM modules the right way round, align the key notch with the corresponding ridge in the memory socket. Be very gentle when inserting new DIMMs. Push the new module straight down into the socket until the locking tabs latch the module into place. Double-check all the tabs are locked and the module is firmly in place.

Reattach any hardware or wired connections you had to remove prior to installing the memory modules.

Now try powering up the system. A succession of fast beeps indicates that one of the modules isn’t properly installed or may be defective. If you’re trying to fill all the memory sockets, remove the old modules and check whether the PC will boot up properly with only the new ones fitted.

Upgrading laptop memory

It’s usually a matter of simply undoing a few screws on the back of your laptop to remove the rear panel and access the RAM. Consult your manual for details of how to open the bay containing the memory sockets. If the manual doesn’t explain this, look for the information on the manufacturer’s website.

Laptop parts are delicate and very small. You may need to use a screwdriver with a special head to remove the screws from the memory compartment.

Confirm you have the correct module types for your PC (DDR2 or DDR3).

Laptops use SODIMMs, which are smaller than desktop memory modules. Their memory sockets have locking tabs; once unlatched, a spring will often push up the old modules for easy removal.

When inserting a new module, line up its notch with the matching ridge in the memory socket. Slide the module into the slot and press it into the laptop to latch it in place. Check to see whether the system boots up before replacing the compartment cover.

Learn more about your memory

Windows Seizer 1.05 is a useful piece of freeware that displays low-level information about all the windows open on your desktop.

This information includes the window caption, its memory usage, handle, class, parent, process ID and file name, plus the window’s size and position.

The initial table displays data on only the windows you can see. Select ‘Show Hidden’ and, after a sometimes lengthy delay, you’ll also see the many more hidden windows active on your system. This can be useful for developers, but it has more general applications for Windows users, too: if a hidden window keeps locking up or hogging all your RAM, you can spot it here.

As well as watching your system, Window Seizer can also manipulate windows in various ways. It lets you close, hide or reveal windows, terminate locked programs, move them top-left of the screen (this can be very handy if they’re currently not visible) and more.

There are a few problems with the program, however. Memory usage doesn’t always appear to be reported accurately, for instance. And occasional lengthy pauses sometimes leave you wondering if the program has locked up. Still, Windows Seizer has plenty of useful features and offers a handy way to monitor exactly what’s running on your desktop.

Source:http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/pc-upgrades/3314462/how-add-ram-speed-up-your-pc/

If the money is right, you probably should. But you need to consider a few things before you pull out your credit card.

First, can your PC take that much RAM, and is the RAM that you can buy at that great price the right type for your PC? For the answer to both of those questions, try the Crucial System Scanner. This small, free program examines your hardware, then tells you–via a web page–how much RAM you have, how much you can have, and what kind you need.

Crucial, the Web site that hosts the scanner, is in the RAM retail business, so if you’re going to buy RAM, they’re hoping you buy it from them. But they also give you enough information to look for good prices elsewhere.

Second, more RAM may not make a huge difference. PC World Lab tests done earlier this year indicated that adding RAM adds little improvement. As Christopher Null explained in Hardware Speed Boosts for Your PC, “if your PC already has even a moderate amount of RAM, you likely won’t see much of a speed increase from adding more…[a test computer's] performance im­­proved by just 3 percent when we moved from 4GB of RAM to 8GB.”

Source:http://www.pcworld.com/article/240679/should_i_upgrade_my_ram.html

Designed to take advantage of that 32GB of total system memory or to give a notebook serious performance boost, respectively, Corsair announced 8GB Vengeance and Value Select DDR3 memory kits.

The Vengeance kits run at 1600MHz (1.5V) with timings of 10-10-10-27, giving users the ability to pack in 32GB of RAM into four memory slots.

The 8GB modules in the Value Select line are aimed at mainstream desktop PCs and laptops. The latter often has but a pair of memory slots; with the new Value Select modules, users can bump up their notebook memory to 16GB. Value Select modules will be 1333MHz (1.5V) with 9-9-9-24 timings.

Source:http://hothardware.com/News/Corsair-Announces-Vengeance-and-Value-Select-8GB-DDR3-Modules/

My primary workstation is a 2009 8-core Mac Pro. When I purchased the machine about two and a half years ago, I knew I wanted eight cores but at the time I could only afford the 2.26GHz option and 6GB of RAM. As one of Apple’s few remaining “upgradeable” line of computers, I hoped to upgrade the processors and RAM in the future. Back in June, with the impending launch of Final Cut Pro X and the increasing number of other high-performance applications that seemed to be running slower and slower on my Mac Pro, I knew the time had come to perform the upgrade I had planned.

I’d like to take the time to mention here that everything discussed in this article, except for the RAM upgrade, most definitely voids your warranty. In my case, the warranty had expired so I had nothing to lose in that department. But if you choose to follow my lead and upgrade your own Mac Pro, please understand that you do so at your own risk.

Now, down to business. The upgrade would come in two phases: RAM and CPU. The RAM would be simple, but I knew the CPU upgrade would be a challenge and that there was a risk that I could irrevocably damage my Mac. Considering the options, I decided to accept the risk and move forward with the upgrade.

I started with the easy part, and ordered 24GB (6×4GB) of RAM from Other World Computing. The price at the time was $320. This was back in June. Prices have now dropped even further, and the same 6×4GB configuration of RAM now costs only $244 as of the date of this article. The Mac Pro RAM is surprisingly easy to upgrade, second in ease perhaps only to the Mac Mini. It is a completely tool-less process and requires only removing the side panel from the computer, and then removing the processor tray from the bottom. Apple Support Article HT4433 helped explain the process, but for those familiar with hardware upgrades it is a very straightforward procedure.

For the processors, I decided to go “all out” and get the highest performance processor I could find. That would be the Xeon W5590 at 3.33GHz. These processors still retail at a ridiculously high price, between $1500 and $1800 each, but there is thankfully a robust market of used processors on sites such as eBay. I admit that I was a bit hesitant to purchase used processors, but after some research I found a seller with excellent ratings and an equally excellent price: $1200 for the pair of processors. They may be used, but at 66% off the retail price, I couldn’t say no.

The first challenge I faced was improper tools. The Mac Pro’s CPU heatsinks are surprisingly held in place with common 3mm hex screws. The only problem is that the screws are recessed about three inches into the heatsink, and I had no hex wrench long enough to reach the screw. A late-night trip to the local hardware store solved the problem, and I recommend purchasing the longest hex wrench set you can find before beginning this process.

The screws themselves are spring-mounted, so simply loosen them slowly until you feel them pop up. Once all four screws are removed per heatsink, carefully lift the heatsink up, detaching it from the connector on the logic board that controls fan and thermal settings. Be careful to note that the processor will likely be stuck with thermal paste to the bottom of the heatsink and will lift off when you remove it. Quickly turn the heatsink upside down to prevent the processor from coming loose and falling (although in my case the thermal paste acted almost as glue and it took quite a bit of force to detach it). Repeat for the second heatsink. Be sure to make note of which heatsink goes to which socket, as they are not interchangeable.

With the heatsinks and processors removed, I set about cleaning off the old thermal paste from both parts. There are specialized cleaners for this task, but I’ve found that a clean microfiber cloth and rubbing alcohol do the job just fine. Just be careful not to overuse the rubbing alcohol and have some spill over onto other parts of the system.

With the parts cleaned, I opened the package containing the new processors and the first thing I took note of was the drastic difference in appearance between the chips. The stock chips used on the 8-core Mac Pro are lidless, meaning the metal cap used for protection that is recognizable on most chips is not present and the core of the chip is directly exposed. I feared this may cause two issues: first, because the chips I was installing were lidded, the extra height of the lid might not allow the heatsink and CPU to sit properly in the socket; second, the Mac Pro was thermally designed for lidless chips and the lidded chips might cause temperatures to rise too high. Both concerns proved to be immaterial in the end, although special consideration had to be paid to ensure that this was the case.

I started with “CPU A” and placed the processor into the socket. After applying new thermal paste (I used Arctic Cooling’s MX-2) to the CPU, I slowly lowered the heatsink into place, ensuring that the fan/thermal connector was lined up properly. I then began to slowly tighten the hex screws that hold the heatsink in place. Because the new CPU was slightly thicker than the old one due to its lid, I wanted to tighten the screws a little at a time until I was sure that the heatsink was tight and secure, but not so tight as to cause damage to the socket. This turned out to be about five turns of each screw, performed corner-to-corner to ensure that one side did not over-tighten and skew the chip’s orientation.

The 8-core Mac Pro can run with just a single processor installed, so I quickly put the computer back together to test my installation before attempting to replace the second CPU. To my relief, the system booted up just fine and System Profiler showed that a single 3.32GHz (not quite sure why the processor reports itself as 3.32 instead of 3.33GHz) processor was installed. Satisfied, I shut down and dismantled the computer again to install the second CPU, repeating the steps above.

With both CPUs installed, I booted the machine and again it booted fine, but I noticed a problem: the fan on the second CPU (identified in the system as “Booster B”) was running at full speed despite normal temps on the processor. I was quite concerned that I had damaged something and began fearing for the worst: a lifetime of listening to a jet engine under my desk (those with Mac Pros know just how loud our machines can get when the fans go full speed).

I shut down and disassembled the system again. I decided to try removing and reattaching the second heatsink in hopes that it would solve the issue. Sure enough, as I reattached the heatsink I noticed that the fan/thermal connector “clicked” into place a little better than it had before and when I rebooted the system, the problem was solved.

With both processors installed, I decided to do some stress testing to ensure that both the used processors were still fully operational and that I hadn’t messed up anything else during installation. There are many ways to stress test a Mac but my new favorite method is using Primate Labs’ cross-platform benchmark tool GeekBench. Starting with version 2.2.0, GeekBench includes a stress test option in the “Benchmarks” menu. I let that test run for several hours and thankfully received no errors. My other previously mentioned concern was operating temperatures and I was happy to see that my temperatures only rose about 3℃ over the operating temperatures of the stock processors, a noticeable but completely acceptable result.

Now confident that the hardware I installed was “good,” I set about to find out just how much performance I had gained for my money. Turning again to the aforementioned GeekBench, I ran the test three times and averaged my results. Before the upgrades, my GeekBench Score was a respectable 13958. After the upgrade, my score jumped to 20643, an approximately 48% increase in performance. By contrast, a top-of-the-line Mid 2010 12-core Mac Pro at 2.93GHz with 24GB of RAM scores 24730, but costs $7300.

In the end, I spent about $1500 and brought my Mac Pro back up to speed with the current generation. The performance increase has been noticeable in everything from day-to-day usage to Final Cut Pro X rendering. Considering the high cost of a 2010 Mac Pro (and whether we’ll even get a 2011 Mac Pro), I am quite happy with the end result. The only tools needed are a long 3mm hex wrench, some thermal paste, and time.

Source:http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/step_by_step_mac_pro_processor_upgrade/

RAM memory refers to your computer’s random access memory or its ability to store data. One thing everyone should know about their computers is how to perform a computer RAM memory check. Basically, you’re checking your computer’s RAM memory capacity to see if there are any problems. The worst thing that can happen as a result of weak RAM memory is that it can cause an assortment of different issues on your computer.

A few of the possible issues you may encounter. It is important to remember that the below issues can also be caused by more than just bad RAM memory:

1. Computer does not boot, instead you get a beep code.

2. Random computer crashes causing BSOD, General Protection Fault error messages, Illegal Operations, Fatal Exceptions, etc.

3. Computer random reboots.

4. Installing Windows or another program fails.

Here’s how to check your PC’s current RAM memory usage:

Right click on your toolbar at bottom of screen next to the start button > Task Manger > Performance tab. If ‘Physical Memory’ exceeds 80 percent and your PC seems sluggish, you need more RAM.

What you add will depend on the condition of your computer and how you use it. For word processing? Gaming? Business? Emailing and surfing the web? Listening to music? Working? For creating comics,art works or graphics? Do you make phone calls or Skype?

“Today’s operating systems and applications run faster with large amounts of random access memory, known as RAM. RAM memory is what a computer uses to process information. Boosting RAM memory, allows your computer will boot up faster and programs will open faster. A PC with more RAM memory is less likely to lock up or behave strangely.” (buy.blorge)

If you find after performing your computer RAM memory check that you need new or additional RAM memory, here are a few ideas to consider:

Swap or remove memory by accessing to other compatible computer’s memory, like an extra computer in your home or office, a friend’s or colleagues’s computer. You can swap that memory into your computer to see if it’s a memory issue. Checking memory in a good working computer is a good method of checking to see if the memory in your computer is bad or low.

If your memory works in the other computer without issues or other memory is experiencing the same problems as your memory, it’s most likely a motherboard, PSU, or other hardware issue and not a computer memory issue.

After performing the computer RAM memory check and you find that you need to need to replace your current memory with a new one. No need to worry as computer memory is one of the most commonly purchased and performed computer upgrades there is.

Source:http://thebqb.com/ram-memory-check-on-your-computer/2212684/

Fast-paced lifestyles and slow computers are a perfect recipe for frustration. This week continues our look at the root causes of sluggish computing and how to pick up the pace without spending a lot of cash.

Beyond buying a new PC or upgrading your existing machine’s motherboard and CPU, the biggest performance bang for your buck is to add more RAM to your computer. Computers are limited to how much RAM they can hold based on the motherboard design and the operating system. To find out how much physical memory your machine can accommodate, consult your hardware manual. To see how much RAM you now have, you’ll need to open up the case or use special diagnostic software. In either case, you might need to consult a tech.

Windows XP can only work with a maximum of 4 gigabytes of RAM. Adding more is simply wasting it because the operating system won’t see or use it. The 32-bit versions of Windows 7 continue the 4-gigabyte limit, but the 64-bit versions can work with significantly more. Windows 7 Ultimate, Enterprise and Professional 64-bit can utilize as much as 192 gigabytes of RAM, and the Home Premium 64-bit version can use a maximum of 16 gigabytes.

If you can add more RAM to your machine without exceeding either the motherboard or OS limitations, by all means do so. You’ll see immediate performance improvements. Today’s RAM is faster and less expensive than ever before. Not any RAM will do, however. Make sure you know the proper specs for your machine and consult a tech if in doubt.

If you can’t afford extra RAM, here are some tricks for getting the most out of what you’ve got:

PTurn off extraneous bells and whistles. Windows 7 is laden with graphic eye candy, designed to make your computing experience more robust and pleasurable.

Unfortunately, if your hardware is not up to snuff, it can have the opposite effect, causing Windows’ performance to be sluggish and frustrating.

To adjust Windows 7 for best performance, go to the Start menu and type “performance” — sans quotes — in the search field, and then wait for results to appear in a list above. One of the top items should be “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.” Click this to be taken to the Performance Options window. In the tab labeled Visual Effects, you’ll see a long list of display options you can turn on or off. You can manually select what to use, automatically adjust for appearance or performance, or let Windows choose based on your hardware specs.

PDump those desktop gadgets. Sure, desktop gadgets — introduced in Vista and refined in Windows 7 — can be useful and fun, but they tend to also be resource hogs that can bog down a less-than-optimal computer.

If you don’t want to dump them altogether, at least limit yourself to one or two of the most useful, preferably stand-alone gadgets that don’t access the Internet.

PRestart your machine regularly. Many people like to keep their computers running 24/7, which can drain system resources and result in “dirty memory,” a condition that leads to slow performance and random lockups. Not all programs use RAM wisely, giving back less than they take in and resulting in memory leaks. People who put their computer to sleep aren’t immune but only postpone eventual problems.

People who keep their computers on all day every day tend to complain about performance problems. These same people are amazed how quickly those problems disappear by simply restarting the machine at least once a week. The longer you keep your machine active, usually multitasking several large applications, the more often you should routinely restart your PC.

We’re not done with suggestions, but we’re out of space. Tune in next week for the conclusion of this series, with more tips on low- or no-cost ways to speed up your computer.

Source:http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/sep/20/adding-ram-boosts-speed-at-a-low-cost/

Have an inexplicable lust for all things AMD? Better sit down for this one folks, as your favorite chip company is back, this time peddling Radeon-branded RAM in exchange for your hard earned dough.

Tested to the “highest industry” standards, the DDR3 modules will be available in three SKUs: the entry-level “Entertainment” sticks (clocked at 1333MHz), followed by speedier “Ultra Pro Gaming” (1600MHz) and an “Enterprise” RAM of an unknown speed.

Akiba PC Online! spotted 2GB modules of the lowest tier chilling in Japan for a cool ¥1570 (around $20 stateside), as-well as a US product page (which we’ve kindly linked below).

Small price to pay for memory to match your graphics card — brand loyalty’s a beautiful thing, right guys?

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/amd-intros-radeon-branded-ram-gives-gamers-that-coordinated-com/

A year ago, Facevision introduced the first Skype-certified HD Webcam, the FV TouchCam N1, that was capable of streaming high-definition video over the Internet, turning video chat into a much better experience. It was one of a few HD Webcams at the time.

For this reason, the FV TouchCam N1 was rather expensive, costing around $120 when first released and now has a street price of about $100.

Today, the company announced and demonstrated at CES 2011 a new version of the Webcam that offers the same capability but at a significantly lower cost, the TouchCam V1 720p HD VideoCam.

According to Facevision, like its predecessor, the new V1 is a Skype-certified HD camera with a wide-angle lens and built-in hardware H.264 video encoding that can deliver 720p video over an Internet connection that has the bandwidth of 1.2Mbps or more. To put this in perspective, a typical 4G cellular connection, such as the Clear 4G+ Mobile or Verizon VL600 has a bandwidth of around 10Mbps. Residential cable broadband’s speeds vary from about the same to much higher.

Facevision says that when used with the most recent version of Skype (version 5.0 or later), three or more users can hold a group video conference call with the Webcam. The device also works with regular chat clients, such as Yahoo or Windows Live messengers. For businesses, it’s also compatible with Cisco WebEx, GoToMeeting, and other online collaborative meeting applications.

The new TouchCam V1 requires a computer that runs Windows XP or later with the minimum hardware requirements of an Intel Core 2Duo or equivalent CPU, 1GB RAM, available Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port, and an Internet connection with minimum 1.2Mbps for both downloading and uploading.

The device is slated to ship in the first quarter of the year with the suggested price of around $70. This means you can expect the street price to be even lower.

Source:http://ces.cnet.com/8301-32254_1-20026800-283.html

When your PC goes wrong and you have lost all hope the normal final stage is to reformat your computer and start afresh. This will most likely resolve any software issues, remove viruses or any other nasties and give you a clean start. But what happens if you have already reformatted and the problem still exists?

This means, most likely, you have a hardware fault. This is where problems can start.

Diagnosing a computer hardware fault can be a right pain as any of the computer components could the cause. Unless you are intending to replace the entire machine you need to carefully diagnose with what components the fault lies with.

I would advise you look at the computer into these main areas to analyse.

Memory / RAM

Power Supply

Hard Disk

Motherboard

This isn’t a complete definitive list, obviously depending on your issue ie if your issue is that you don’t get sound then it could be a sound card issue, similarly if you don’t get a display then graphics could be the culprit. If it is a random fault then either of the above could be the cause.

Memory – this is fortunately quite easy to diagnose. Search the Internet for a memory tester. Generally these can be put onto a CD (or Floppy if you are stuck in the past!!), boot up from the CD which then enters the memory test. This will constantly cycle through, testing the memory for errors. It is wise to leave this on for several hours or even better over night. It will advise you if the memory fails.

Power Supply – this can be a strange one. People generally assume that if the power supply does fail then you would get no life from you computer at all. This sometimes is not true. I have had computers that turn off at random times, computers that have the power light on, but do not start up etc and it has turned out to be the supply – I would advise this should be one of the first things to test as can be a problematic area. Testing it can be difficult without the right equipment. Really the only way is to get a volt tester and check the voltage and current coming out.

Hard Disk – this can be one of the worst problems to have as if your hard disk does fail, unless you have been sensible and done regular backups of your most valuable data, you stand to lose it all. Hard disks can go at any time and usually you will hear a harsh sounding clicking noise that is coming from your computer. If this is the case you need to probably replace the hard disk. Get someone who then knows what they are doing here to try and recover your old data for you.

If none of the above solves your problem then you could possibly be looking at the fault being with the motherboard or any other plug in cards or devices you have. Remove everything to leave only the very basics. Take out all sound cards etc and any other PCI devices that are not essential. If you have more than one stick of ram then leave in only one and see if the problem resolves.

Really, solving hardware issues comes down to a case of trial and error here so take the time to test everything out. Bear in mind that even if your keyboard or mouse is faulty, very strange things can happen to a computer, so if you can, try to remove and test every single item.

Source:http://www.mtk-klub.com/hardware/diagnosing-computer-hardware-faults/

MSI has continued to bombard the market with multimedia notebooks, adding another machine to its F series.

The FX600MX sports a 15.6-inch LED-backlit screen with a default resolution of 1366×768, which is upgradeable to 1920×1080 — something media buffs will surely appreciate.

It’s powered by an Intel Core i5 processor with up to 8GB of DDR3 1066MHz RAM, an Nvidia GeForce 310M GPU with 512MB of VRAM and automatic switching technology, 320GB to 640GB of mechanical storage, a DVD burner, and a 720p HD webcam.

Connectivity includes one HDMI and VGA output, two USB 2.0 ports (no USB 3.0), one eSATA, a 4-in-1 card reader (XD/MS/SD/MMC), optional Bluetooth 2.1, gigabit Ethernet, and 802.11b/g/n wireless.

The package weighs about 5.3lbs (2.4kg) with a 6-cell battery (we don’t see a runtime estimate) and it’ll come with Windows 7 Home Premium.

In its usual fashion, MSI hasn’t revealed pricing and availability just yet.

In the meantime, be sure to read our recently updated laptop buying guide if you’re shopping for a new notebook.

Source:http://www.techspot.com/news/40929-msi-announces-fx600mx-multimedia-notebook.html