Laptops

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So, as this will probably be my last ever blog post, and we are all going off to college, I thought I would do a post about laptops and how to choose which to get. We all know that a laptop is almost an essential part to any college career, but how do you know what to get? And how do you not break the bank? Well you just need to weigh your options. One of the main things you are going to want to think about is whether you want a laptop that will last you for 4 years, or if you want to get one for 2 years, and buy another one halfway through. This decision depends on your preference and financial status, but for the purpose of this blog, I'm going to gear most estimates towards a 4 year computer. In my opinion, to get a nice, long-lasting laptop for college, you are going to want to spend around $1,000. This will allow you to get the up to date technology, and keep your laptop up to date even 4 years from now. Whether you get a large 17+ inch screen or a smaller 14.3" screen is, again, up to you. On one hand a smaller screen will translate into a lighter easier to carry laptop, while a bigger screen will offer a nicer picture and may just please you more. Next, CPU, you want to make sure it is at least a quad-core processor, and I recommend at LEAST a 3.0Ghz clock speed, try for 3.3+ if possible. Also, if going the Intel family route, try to get a processor from the i7 family, rather than i5 or i3 (try to avoid i3). The next thing to look at is the RAM you are getting. For a computer to last 4 or more years I would recommend at least 8Gb, 4Gb at a minimum. You can never have too much RAM and this will keep your computer running snappy and able to handle newer programs for a longer time. Now, the graphics card, here you need to consider whether or not you want to play intense games on your laptop or not(By intense games I mean real video games like COD, Skyrim, or etc. not farmville). If you do then you are going to want to look for a laptop with a DEDICATED video card that has at least 1Gb of dedicated video memory, preferably a card made by Nvidia. If not, then you don't have to worry too much, however still make sure it has a dedicated graphics card, as built-in cards have poor power and will become outdated far quicker. Finally, the harddrive, if you can afford it try and buy a laptop with an SSD (Solid State Drive). These are the fastest harddrives you can get, and will make your system INSANELY fast. However, they tend to be rather expensive, and small in size, so they may not be practical for everyone. If you do get a laptop with an SSD you are probably going to want to buy a decent external harddrive to keep most of your data on. Otherwise, just get a normal harddrive, the matter son what you think you need, but I don't recommend anything less that 500Gb, and make sure the spindle speed is 7200RPM. And one final note, try and avoid purchasing a laptop before June. This is when the newest laptops will be released and discounts will be popping up everywhere. You will be able to find newer technologies and better prices, so just wait a bit and try and buy your laptop starting mid-June.

P.S. If any of my classmates have questions about laptops/computers for college, just ask me at school or anything, I'm glad to answer and help.

The Monster: GeForce GTX 690

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SO, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 was just released yesterday, and this thing is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. It has 4Gb of dedicated video memory, a power draw of 300W, and other ridiculous specifications (for a full list of specification click here. That't not all that makes this card crazy, the GTX 680 was said to be equivalent to THREE GTX 580's, and the 690 is said to be even better than that. This graphics card can handle absolutely anything you could imagine, and then some. The average person wouldn't even need a 6th of this card's capabilities, and even at that they would still have more than enough power. Now for a crazy card, you also get a rather steep price, if you want to get this card you will have to pay upwards of $1,000 for it. That's the same amount I spent building my entire computer, and my computer is a monster as well. And even if you were to get this card, you would need a bad ass motherboard and CPU to go along with it, so you could get the full performance. In the end, this thing is amazing and as they say on their website "The fastest graphics card in the world", although I have no doubt that relatively soon there will be a new "fastest" card.

Part 7: The Keyboard

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The keyboard is yet another aspect of your computer that you use everyday. As with the mouse an average computer user doesn't have to put much thought into purchasing a keyboard, as long as it types, it's fine. However, gamers take keyboard choice into serious contemplation. When gaming, normal everyday keyboard don't perform nearly as good as a specifically made gaming keyboard. The keys can ghost, response time isn't as good, keys can stick, and you have to push further to engage the button. Ghosting is a problem where multiple keys pressed at the same time cause some of the keys not to be registered. During a hardcore gaming session, this could cause you to miss out on critical actions. Gaming keyboards use special technology to prevent this from happening, allowing all key presses to be detected, no matter the amount. Another unique features of most gaming keyboards is the ability to record and play back macros. Macros are combinations or a series of key presses that when played back send that series of presses to the computer, adding like you pressed those keys. It is especially useful when you need to perform a series of events quickly in a video game. All these features is why gamers choose to buy gaming keyboards. Again, i like to buy my gaming equipment from razer, these keyboards being no exception. My favorite has to be the Black Widow because it offers all the features you could want, and is very comfortable to use.

Part 6: The Mouse

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Since I have covered the important parts of the computer, I'm now going to talk a bit about peripherals and what, in my opinion, is the best and why. One of the things that is always used when you use a computer is the mouse. You use it to navigate pages, click things, and to play games. While most people don't really give their mouse a second thought, to gamers it can be a pretty big deal. In a game, your mouse is what stand between you and victory. It's responsiveness can be the difference between life and death, while the design can give you an unfair edge above everyone else. There all all kinds of gaming mice, designed to a way that the manufacturer thinks is best for its purpose. Also, sensitivity (measured in DPI) varies in every mouse, a higher max DPI usually being preferred by most gamers. My favorite manufacturer of gamming hardware such as mice and keyboards is razer. From my experience they make durable, reliable hardware, that is comfortable to use. My favorite mouse by them has to be the mamba. It is a solid, comfortable mouse. It responds extremely well, and has extra buttons on the side that you can bind for various in-game actions. Also, it has the option of switching between wired and wireless, which is a very nice option. For MMO gamers there is also the naga which is nice because it has multiple buttons on the side for easy access to MMO actions. While I'm not much of a MMO gamer myself, this seems very convenient.

Part 5: The Case

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The computer case. To most users there is nothing to worry about here, and not much you can even do to effect you you get, besides buying a completely different computer. This post is more directed towards people who are building their own computers. A case can affect the airflow, cooling, and what you can or can't fit in your computer. The first thing you want to figure out before you go looking for a case, is what you want to fit inside your computer. Things such as, the size of the video card, size of the motherboard, and whether or not you want to do air or liquid cooling. There are two main case sizes that you will run across when case shopping, mid-tower and full-tower. Obviously full-tower is larger than a mid-tower case, but this has both benefits and downfalls. While if you get a full tower you usually won't have to worry about free space, they do take up a lot more room on your desk, and can weigh quite a bit. You don't really need a full-tower unless you are planning on getting a large, or multiple, graphics cards, of a full ATX or Extended motherboard. As a mid-tower won't be able to fit those components. Now, size isn't the only factor when choosing a case, you may also worry about airflow and cooling options. While all cases can be modified to be water-cooled, some make it easier by including pre-cut sections and such. Also, you will have to look at the fan positioning, to figure if the case you want will be able to keep your system cool. I myself am the proud owner of the NZXT Phantom Full-tower case::

This case is an absolute monster, standing at 21 inches (almost 2 feet), having a depth of 24.5 inches, and weighing 25 pounds empty, this case is definitely not for everyone. It can handle anything you throw at it, from the biggest graphics cards, to the biggest fans and motherboards. It came at a great price, just around $100, and I got it for the fact that I have a big motherboard, and for future upgrade purposes. In the end, the case you pick depends on you and your personal preferences. There isn't one case for everyone, and you just have to look until you find one that you like.

Part 4: Video Card

This week I'm going to talk about Video Cards, and why they are, or aren't, an important thing for you to consider while building/buying/or upgrading your computer. If all you do is use word, Facebook, and play small flash games on the internet, chances are you don't really need to worry about your computers video card. However if you stream movies, edit photos/video, play graphics intensive video games, then you do need to seriously look into your graphics card. A graphics/video card, as you can probably deduce, handles all the graphics that your computer processes and displays. The more intense the graphic, the harder the graphics card has to work. The main reason people get the good graphics cards is so that they can play hardcore video games that require the power. I have made a previous post that goes more into details about graphics card producers and which to pick, so if you are trying to decide you should read that post as well. The average user can go out and acquire a decent video card, that will handle whatever they would need to do, for around $100. Sure it won't be able to handle great video editing or those high-end games (at least not on high settings) but it will increase the smoothness of movies and any other games you decide to play.

Part 3: RAM

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RAM is another important aspect of any computer. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It is what controls how fast your computer runs and responds. When your computer is running a program it loads it into the RAM of the system. This allows the program to access it's resources faster than if it was in the harddrive because RAM is a type of flash memory, while a typical harddrive isn't. A harddrive is composed of spinning disks called platters, and this is what the computer writes the data on to. RAM on the other hand is composed of non-moving, flash memory, like a flash drive, which allows for faster read and write speeds. This is why RAM is used to store the active program data, the more RAM, the more data that can be stored, thus the faster the computer can perform. The average user doesn't need more than 4Gb of RAM. In fact, a 32-bit operating system can only use up to 4Gb of RAM. However, with the cheap cost of RAM nowadays, there is no reason you shouldn't max out your memory, as it is relatively easy for any person to do. You can easily add 4Gb of RAM to your system for under $50, which is a relatively easy way to increase the performance of your system. If you are interested in upgrading your RAM go here :: http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/ and run the scanner tool, they will automatically detect your system specifications and recommend new RAM for your system.

Part 2: The CPU

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This week I'm going to educate you on the computers CPU. While I have already made an article highlighting the two main CPU manufacturers, this one will go more in depth about what a CPU is for, and how to decide what you should choose, if you ever need to do so. The CPU is basically the brain of the computer. It handles the processes, calculations, and effects overall system performance and stability. Most computers now come with a quad-core processor, however dual-core is still relatively popular, and you can find 6-core if you look around. More cores is better, up to a point. The number of cores is how your computer multi-tasks. For example, if you are rendering video, one core may handle the monochrome, and another core may handle effects, and another core may handle sound. It allows your computer to do more tasks faster, without putting too much stress on the machine. An average user does not need anything over a quad-core, even most power-users won't benefit from 6 or 8 cores. Most applications can only use 2 - 4 cores right now anyways, and the only reason for 6 or more would be if you are into intense 3D graphics creation or video rendering. Four cores is plenty for any computer at this time, what you want to look at is the clock speed. The clock speed (usually measured in Ghz) is how fast the CPU runs, the clock rate if you will. To have a relatively decent computer you should aim for a CPU with a clock speed of at least 3Ghz, and the more the better. Having a higher clock speed allows your computer to run things more smoothly and handle things without crashing. The highest speed you will be able to find at the moment is around 3.8Ghz, which is very fast, and while you can go higher (4.5-4.8) you need to overclock your CPU for those speeds, and that is something a regular user should not do, as it can fry your CPU or drastically decrease the lifespan.

Part 1: Motherboards

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So I have decided to make a series of blog entries about the various parts of a computer, as to educate people on why the various parts are important, which parts are more important to focus on for certain people, and how to upgrade the mentioned parts. The first part of a computer I would like to talk about is the motherboard. This is the main part of the computer that hold all of the other components. Everything interfaces with this piece of hardware, and it is absolutely required. All the various pieces attach and interface with this section of the computer, and this piece can determine what your machine can handle, and how upgradable it will be in the future. Most average consumers will never have to worry about replacing a motherboard or looking to buy and upgrade, as it is one of the more ambitious pieces to replace, and is usually only handled by someone wishing to build a computer from the ground up. A reason you might want to look into your own motherboard is so that you can have control over what your computer can handle. Your motherboard effects the CPU that you can handle, the amount of RAM you can take, which video cards you can support, and many other, smaller, things. One main thing you want to come to a decision on when buying a motherboard is which CPU you wish to use. Certain motherboards can only support certain CPU types, such as Intel sockets or AMD sockets. These range is size and type and you will have to do some research into the subject if you really wish to get serious into building your own computer, as there is no motherboard that can handle EVERY CPU socket. Quickly, in my opinion, on of the best manufacturers for beginners to look at is ASUS. From my dealings with them they have a very reliable customer support line and well made products. They are well priced, perform great, and stand up to a lot of use.

Nvidia vs. Radeon

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Yet again, another match up between companies, Nvidia and Radeon have been going at it for years over who has the best graphics card to offer. They both release newer and better graphics cards every year, switching back and forth as to who can offer the "most powerful graphics card in the world". Now, these graphics cards are of course expensive, some running up around the $500 mark, and the average computer user need to worry about these cards. In fact, most people can get by just fine buying a card within their budget, not caring about manufacturer. A great graphics card is only important if you are looking to run high end games, or do hardcore graphics/video editing. That, or, if you are just looking to have the best computer around. Both of the two major companies, Nvidia and Radeon, offer the most high end graphic cards that a person can get their hands on. Who you pick, is entirely up to you and your experiences, as neither are substantially better than the other. However, in my opinion, Nvidia is the way to go. In all the computers that I have built or fixed, I have used/recommended Nvidia as the graphics card of choice. They have performed very well for me in the past, and continue to be slightly ahead of Radeon in terms of available technology. Also, they have amazing reliability and customer support. Through my experience with Radeon graphics cards, I have had buggy driver issues as well as hardware compatibility issues, while I have had no issues of the sort with any of my Nvidia cards. I currently own a Nvidia GTX 480, one of the best graphics cards available, and I couldn't be happier with the performance. The card can run literally anything i throw at it, with no lag or crashing issues to speak of. Also, as far as price differences go, there isn't to much of a difference when you get higher up into the field. if you are willing to spend $400+ on a graphics card, a difference of $20 isn't exactly going to be the deciding factor. However, in my experience, Nvidia has always been a bit cheaper and has been able to offer cards at a better value. If you wish to check how your card stacks up, or just to see the current rankings, this website shows the ranking of the highest end graphics cards. currently Nvidia holds the top positions (they have the cards usually prefixed with GeForce or GTX) with Radeon leading behind. While there are many various opinions on this subject, I will always recommend Nvidia as the best graphics card producer around.

AMD vs. Intel

There has been a war between Intel and AMD processors for as long as computers have been up and running. Many varied opinions exist on this topic and people feel very strongly for who they support. People will say Intel is too expensive, or that AMD lacks performance (especially after they released their bulldozer architecture, which many people don't like). In my opinion, both are great processor companies and both have their ups and downs. I for one use AMD processors, they are relatively inexpensive (compared to their Intel counterparts) and they have great performance for the money. To put this in a better perspective, a 3.2Ghz 6-core Intel processor will run you around $500, while a 6-core 3.3ghz AMD processor will run you about $150. Now, as you can see AMD definitely like to run on the in-expensive side, however, Intel does show some amazing performance. For example, the Intel i7 3960X is an absolute beast, one of the best processors on the market (of the top 10 processors on cpubenchmark.net, 9 are Intel) however it will set you back a nice $1,000. CPU's from Intel will definitely bring your machine to the next level, if you are willing to cough up the cash that is. AMD CPU's are far more affordable, and will give most people the performance that they need, they are by no means weak. I'm currently running a machine with a 6-core AMD FX 3.3Ghz processor and I have had no problems and this machine has been able to handle anything I can throw at it, including many MANY tasks running at once. I love AMD CPU's and have failed to see a need for the performance offered up by Intel, especially for such a high price.

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If you wish to look a little more into this you can look at CPU benchmarks here: link.
You may read an article comparing Intel to AMD here : link.