Michael Sherlock » computer http://michaelsherlock.com A Touch Of Youth Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:00:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Desktop Buying Guide http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/12/22/desktop-buying-guide/ http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/12/22/desktop-buying-guide/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:00:35 +0000 Michael Sherlock http://michaelsherlock.com/?p=68 Are you in the market for a new desktop computer but aren’t sure what to look for or what the different specifications mean? Then look no further then this breakdown. To help those of you on a budget, which everyone is, each component is weighted by importance. Basically, you need most of these components for your computer to run, but spend more on the components higher on the list because they will allow your computer to last longer, run quicker, and be the best value for your money. Value is the biggest worry consumers face when buying a computer so I hope this guide can help you take the plunge and purchase the best machine possible.

Just remember that technology is always advancing and your computer will probably be updated a few months after your purchase. There is no way to avoid this, so once you take the plunge don’t waste your time looking through any computer ads or listings.

  1. Processor

    2. The processor, or Central Processing Unit (CPU), is essentially the brain of your machine. It runs your programs, powers your games, and crunches your calculations. The CPU can be the most daunting component when it comes to purchasing a computer. With so many different choices from AMD and Intel, you may not know where to turn. Several years ago I would tell you to buy the CPU with the fastest clock speed (Measured in GHz). This is no longer true. You want to buy the fastest computer but clock speed is no longer the only factor in determining which CPU is right for you. You also need to worry about front side buss and the number of cores on the CPU.

    Front Side Bus
    Front side bus (FSB) connects the CPU and the rest of the computer. The higher the front side bus, the faster data can be sent and executed. A high clock speed is one thing, but without a quick front side bus, the performance is wasted. Try to buy a product with at least 800MHz of FSB

    Cores
    Now that you understand Clock Speed and front side bus, it’s time to learn about cores. A core is actually the part of the CPU that performs calculations. Basically, CPU is to your head as a core is to your brain. Having additional cores allows for more data to be processed at the same time. Each additional core makes for more processing power, assuming the applications you are running can take advantage. The more cores your system has the more multitasking you can do. Most multicore computers use 2 cores, known as a duel core machine. Think of dual core as an 8 lane highway compared to single core as a 4 lane highway.

    Mutlicore machines are becoming more and more popular. For instance, I highly recommend Intel’s core 2 duo line because those processors are extremely powerful and cost efficient. In fact, Intel’s “core” line of CPU’s all perform very well per dollar. AMD has some interesting options but I prefer to stick with Intel.

    To conclude, try to get a machine with a solid mix of multiple cores and clock speed. You may not need the power now but this will keep your computer running for a long time and allows you the flexibility to use more intensive programs later.

  2. Memory

    3. Random access memory (RAM) is known as the cheapest and simplest way to enhance your computer. In fact, upgrading RAM is very simple so don’t hesitate to upgrade your memory down the road. Anyway, RAM is a temporary storage median for the applications and programs running on your machine. I say temporary because RAM can potentially be modified several billion times a second. Plus, when you turn off your computer the RAM is purged meaning nothing is stored for long.

    Although there are different types* of RAM, such as DDR2 and SDRam, try not to worry about it when buying your computer. The average user will never know the difference so what ever is included in the computer is probably fine. I suggest looking for at least 1GB of RAM in your machine. However, I strongly suggest 2gb of RAM or more with Windows Vista/7 to make everything run that much smoother. In fact, RAM prices have continued to fall so 2gb of RAM is not the wallet breaker is once was. Get the most ram for your money and don’t hesitate to upgrade in the future.

    *Note that not all RAM modules are compatible with each other. Consult your users manual to find the specific type of RAM used in your machine before upgrading.

  3. Hard Disc

    4. The Hard Disc or Hard Drive (HD) in your computer is where data, programs, and games are stored. HD prices are at an all time low so don’t cheap out. Personal media, such as music and video content, continue to take up more and more space so aim for at least a 250 gigabyte (gb) HD. In fact, you can find 1tb (1000gb) drives for under $100 so don’t skimp out on a small drive.

    Cache and RPM
    Besides the size of your drive, there are more factors to consider including Cache and speed. Cache is basically the ram of the hard drive. Aim to get at least 4mb of cache in your drive and more if you plan on running intensive 3D games or programs. Revolutions per minute (RPM) is how quickly data on the drive can be accessed. Try to get at least a 5,400 RPM drive while aiming for 7,200 RPM’s on a more expensive machine. Premium drives can be 10,000 RPM,’s or more, but do offer better throughput. Don’t go crazy though, get what fits in your budget.

    Types.
    Furthermore, there are actually multiple types of drives on the market today. The most common in new desktop computers are SATA or SATA2. Slower ATA drives are still in production but they have issues with large amounts of data and are bulky inside of your case. Additionally, Hybrid Hard Drives (HHD) and SSD drives are both an up and coming technology. Right now they are geared for lightweight and higher-end notebooks. For a desktop computer don’t worry about either of these formats unless you want to be on the cutting edge and pay a premium for their limited storage.

    All in all, I suggest looking for SATA drives at this point. They offer great performance and store a lot of data per dollar.

  4. Optical Drive

    5. Most computers come with a built in DVD/CD burner. I recommend having a burner, and a few blank discs, for the occasional project so spend the extra few dollars to get the burner if one isn’t standard. When shopping around you may see something called LightScribe. LightScribe enables you to etch designs into a disc essentially creating a label. Unfortunately, the quality is average at best so don’t spend the extra money for a LightScribe drive. If one comes standard, feel free to try it out, but don’t expect professional looking labels on your discs.

    You may also want to consider a blu-ray drive or burner. Although expensive, it is nice to be able to back-up 50gb of data on one portable disc. Burners start at around $200 but blu-ray discs will last longer than DVD’s allowing you a more future proof storage median than DVD. Remember, 1080p movies take a lot of resources to play meaning a budget computer wouldn’t be able to play a blu-ray movie so of course a blu-ray drive isn’t worth the price. Personally, I don’t have a blu-ray drive or burner but if you want to future proof your purchase, you may want to consider a blu-ray drive.

  5. Graphics

    6. Most value computer have integrated graphics meaning the graphics processing is built into the motherboard. This may sound good to some people but to be frank, it’s not. Integrated graphics are weak and offer very little performance in terms of video playback and gaming. They don’t include built in memory which means system RAM will be diverted from general use to use with the graphics processing. This can slow down your machine. However, for the average computer users who doesn’t play games or watch HD movies, this is fine.

    For someone who does want to play games, watch movies or use multiple monitors, you need to have a separate graphics card. There are two current types of graphics cards on the market today: PCIe and AGP. AGP cards are those of the past. These cards are slower and only one card can be installed and working in your machine at any given time. PCIe cards have, for the most part, begun to eliminate AGP cards. Besides the increase in speed, PCIe offers the option of running multiple cards at the same time. With this option, you can do one of two things. Install two compatible Nvidia cards that are deigned to work together which allows for better performance, this is known as scalable link interface (SLI) (ATI calls this crossfire) . If you don’t think you want to pay the extra money for SLI cards, you can also just install two different cards to power extra displays. This is helpful if you work with many large files at the time same and you need upwards of two monitors. However, if you are going to run multiple cards I highly suggest getting two of the same for SLI support. You may save some money but the extra performance is worth the upgrade.

    When looking for a graphics card, you need to consider:
    Processor clock speed-The speed of the graphics processing unit (GPU) is similar to the speed of the CPU. It’s important to remember that sheer clock speed does not necessarily determine performance.
    Memory-The more memory, like system memory, the more processes can be performed at the same time. Generally a lot of memory means a fast card; however, if your card has small clock speed performance will not be effected by more memory.
    Memory Bandwidth-Similar to front side bus, memory bandwidth is how quickly the graphics card memory communicates with the GPU.

    That’s all the average consumer needs to know about graphics. Of course, there are many other details that the hard-core gamer wants to know about but that is not the focus of this article. The focus is to educate you, the average consumer, on how to get the most bang for your buck when buying a desktop computer.

  6. Other Information

    7. Wireless
    For most people, you will be working with a wired connection directly to your modem, dial-up connection, or router. But wireless is a growing desire for a lot of users. Being able to set-up and use your computer anywhere in your house is a great feature to have. So when buying your next computer, considering get one with built in WiFi. Look for 802.11n for fastest throughput otherwise 802.11g will be fine. Remember, wired networking is much faster than wireless networking so only use WiFi if you cannot connect your computer physically to the network.

    Display
    Get an LCD display. Aim for at least a 17inch screen but if you can splurge get a larger display. Every time you use your machine you will be looking at the screen so make sure the contrast ratio is at least 700:1 and the resolution is at least 1280×960. Also, try to get the largest viewing angle, in degrees, possible to make sure you can see the content of the screen from any angle. Some monitors include built in USB ports, which are a convenient way to connect USB devices to your machine, and variable height adjustments allowing you to customize the viewing experience.

So that is it, everything you need to know when buying a new computer. Remember, the CPU and RAM are more important than an upgraded graphic card for the average user, so spend more money on the items on the top of the list.

By the way, if you are considering building your own computer, instead of buying a pre-assembled model, check out my computer building series.

]]> http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/12/22/desktop-buying-guide/feed/ 3 Computer Building Series http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/04/25/computer-building-series/ http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/04/25/computer-building-series/#comments Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:05:45 +0000 Michael Sherlock http://michaelsherlock.com/?p=280 If you have been subscribed to my youtube channel or have been following me on twitter you would have known that I have been building a new PC over the past few weeks. Going into the build I had upgraded several PC components but I never had experience building a PC from scratch. If you have ever wondered how to build or upgrade a PC I recommend following me on my journey from an overview of the components, to installing the motherboard, ram and cpu, and finally to installing the graphics card, hard drive, and optical disk.

Embedded bellow is the playlist which includes all three parts of the series. These videos were produced in HD and the player is small so remember to watch in HD, full screen.

]]> http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/04/25/computer-building-series/feed/ 4 Why Apple Computer’s are Worth the Price http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/01/08/why-apple-computers-are-worth-the-price/ http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/01/08/why-apple-computers-are-worth-the-price/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:35:04 +0000 Michael Sherlock http://michaelsherlock.com/?p=249
A big topic around the web regarding macintosh computers is why pay more? I have been told so many times “I can buy or build my own machine for less then a mac” and sometimes that is true. In other instances, the hardware cost is the same as a PC from another vendor. But why not just buy the machine with the lowest cost for the hardware? Well, among other things, an Apple computer has the advantage because of the additional benefits you get with every Mac.

  1. The Software. Mac OS X is the most complete operating system I have used in many years. It has the eye candy everyone wants but is also responsive. Apple doesn’t preinstall junk-ware from third-party manufacturers on your machine either. They simply install the functional media suite iLife, free of charge, to get you on your way.
  2. Applecare. Let’s say you are a new user and for some reason your machine is not working correctly. Nothing is perfect all of the time but apple doesn’t put you through the annoying hoops other companies call customer service. All you have to do is call Apple and a representative will do their best to help you. Do you live by an apple store though? If so, just go to the store and a ‘genius’ will help you fix the problem. If they can’t, they will replace the faulty component and in some cases give you a completely new machine. Even on the apple website you can find hundreds of tutorials to help you with any issues you are having.
  3. Security. With new viruses, trojans, and spyware hitting the web every day it’s imperative to keep yourself protected. Apple made this a priority and uses an operating system designed more securely from the ground up than windows could ever be. Besides that, there are only a handful of viruses for the mac platform so the chance of getting infected is extremely low. With apple releasing security patches frequently, you can rest easy at night knowing your data is protected.
  4. Quality. Apple has been leaps and bounds above the competition when it comes to making reliable products. The new unibody design for their laptop line is extremely durable and it’s single piece of aluminum is bound to keep your laptop running for years to come. From the past though, apple machines are still chugging along today. A friend of mine uses a three year old powerbook G4 as his primary machine and it can still do everything he needs it to do. From school to work to play, you can expect your mac to keep up with your needs.
  5. Design. Apple machines are known for their sleek look and have been trend setters for years. Companies have tried over and over again to capture the sleek look of an Apple PC but few have matched what Apple has done. Functionally, Apple first brought firewire to their notebooks many years ago and now firewire is the gold standard for connecting high-speed devices to a computer. When apple began installing iSight cameras on all of their notebooks, the competition noticed. It’s almost common now to see webcams installed on mobile computers. When apple does it, you can expect other companies to follow suit.

    6. It’s not an issue of being biased when making a choice to buy a mac. You can run windows or linux on your apple machine but you also get the benefits that no other company besides apple can supply.

    ]]> http://michaelsherlock.com/2009/01/08/why-apple-computers-are-worth-the-price/feed/ 6 Spotlight Turns to Notebooks: Apple Event Racap http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/10/16/spotlight-turns-to-notebooks-apple-event-racap/ http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/10/16/spotlight-turns-to-notebooks-apple-event-racap/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:00:38 +0000 Michael Sherlock http://michaelsherlock.com/?p=204
    The apple event “Spotlight Turns to Notebooks” brought an entirely new look to apple’s notebook line-up. Mostly for the better, this event revamped the macbook and macbook pro lines, updated the macbook air and announced a new monitor. However, there are some major issues in these new products that are uncharacteristic of apple.

    Problems

    • Glossy screens only.
      Prosumers need a monitor that displays colors accurately, which this glossy screen does not, and one that can be used in different lighting environments without being crippled by glare. Have a choice was good, a matte only option would be fine, but Glossy only is a problem.
    • Cinema Display Connectivity
      Although this new display does have a 3 port usb hub built in along with an isight and speakers it is only compatible, out of the box, with the new macbook’s and macbook pro’s. For any other machine, you need an adapter which costs extra money.
    • Firewire 400
      The macbook does not have any firewire options and the pro variety has firewire 800 only. This is a huge problem. Macbook users will no longer be able to use their external hard drives or video cameras and pro users are down a port. Come on apple, it’s just one little port but would be wonderful for many people.

    Watch the keynote .

    ]]>     http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/10/16/spotlight-turns-to-notebooks-apple-event-racap/feed/ 0     WWDC Reactions http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/06/10/wwdc-reactions/ http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/06/10/wwdc-reactions/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:36:18 +0000 Michael Sherlock http://michaelsherlock.com/?p=67 Just to summarize, WWDC was yesterday and apple announced a few interesting things. First of all, apple announced the new iPhone. iPhone 3g will obviously include 3g data along with a larger battery and GPS. Apple also announced mobile me which will eliminate .mac and introduce many new features. Think of mobile me as a way to keep all your macs, pc’s, and iphones all on the same page plus most of the features of dot mac. Apple also introduced mac os 10.6 snow leopard which will focus on security and stability. Look for snow leopard in around a year.
    To watch the entire keynote, as I did, click here or google wwdc 2008 keynote. I suggest you do!

    Want more tech news? Check out my youtube channel!

    ]]>     http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/06/10/wwdc-reactions/feed/ 0     Microsoft Windows 7 expected 2010 http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/04/08/microsoft-windows-7-expected-2010/ http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/04/08/microsoft-windows-7-expected-2010/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:06:16 +0000 Michael Sherlock http://michaelsherlock.com/?p=45

    “Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates’ words are being parsed for hidden meanings. According to my News.com colleague Ina Fried, Gates said this week during a speech before the Inter-American Development Bank: ‘Sometime in the next year or so we will have a new (Windows) version’”

    States Mary Jo Foley blogs for ZDNet. She continues saying

    “Microsoft officials are insisting nothing has changed: Windows 7 is due out roughly three years after Windows Vista’s consumer launch (which was January 2007), meaning in early 2010.”

    Windows Seven
    Even after Bill Gates stated a new version of windows would be shipping next year, 2009, Microsoft has officially stated the next version of windows, Windows 7, will be shipping three years after Vista was released. This 2010 expected release date will hopefully improve on the low and buggy quality of windows vista.

    This comes after the much delayed launch of windows vista. Hopefully for the windows community Microsoft is able to produce a product which doesn’t yield so many issues the way vista has during this first year. (Vista launched January 2007) I feel however that Microsoft will do a better job given all the issues they have had with vista. No company wants their multimillion dollar project to fail the way vista has but it clear they will not make the same mistake twice. Plus, I expect that Microsoft offers a better upgrade path for users. Expect windows seven certified PC’s to actually have the ability to run windows seven. (A big upset for PC users was when windows vista certified computers failed when trying to upgrade to vista.) Expect a very strong and different Windows 7.

    However, I do feel this news exemplifies the fact that vista is a huge upset for Microsoft as well as us consumers. Not only are there too many known issues with vista for it to be a strong competitor but it’s also very unoriginal featuring very ‘mac-like’ features which don’t conform to standard windows users. My opinion, stick with windows xp for as long as you can and than upgrade to Windows Seven.

    Read More

    ]]>     http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/04/08/microsoft-windows-7-expected-2010/feed/ 1     Microsoft Surface on April 17th http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/04/04/microsoft-surface-on-april-17th/ http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/04/04/microsoft-surface-on-april-17th/#comments Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:34:19 +0000 Michael Sherlock http://michaelsherlock.com/?p=41 The Microsoft Surface 30inch, multi-touch device will be launched for the first time this year starting April 17th, at a handful of AT&T stores. This new platform will allow consumers to quickly view the specifications of the cell phones at the store by simply placing the device on the surface. Also, you will be able to place two or more phones on the surface and the computer will compare and display the differences between the phones. Comparing of plans will also be available.

    A really cool feature that is not yet announced but could be coming in the future is the ability for device to device transfer. This would allow you to go to the store, upgrade your phone to a newer model and than place both on the surface. Than you could transfer contacts, pictures, videos, ect to your new phone. This would make the upgrade process amazingly simple.

    Microsoft Surface First Look

    Comparing Phones

    ]]>     http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/04/04/microsoft-surface-on-april-17th/feed/ 0     MacBook Pro http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/03/03/macbook-pro/ http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/03/03/macbook-pro/#comments Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:57:37 +0000 Michael Sherlock http://michaelsherlock.com/2008/03/03/macbook-pro/ Hey guys,
    Just a quick update. I just, on Sunday, purchased a new MacBook Pro. Yes, I am finally a mac users and don’t have to worry about spyware and trojans. Life is good. Anyway, if you haven’t checked out my youtube channel I have embedded the unboxing video I made. Overall, I love my new machine. A full review, or initial impressions, post to come. For anyone using windows right now for anything but gaming, I suggest you switch.

    Think Different.
    -Michael

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