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Single Core into Multicore Processor

21. September 2008

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The entire idea that stands behind a multicore processor is that it “might” help you do more things at the same time, the term also known as multitasking. And for that reason and that reason alone, the industry
has shifted its attention towards milking as much as they can out of the fat cow of progress. In the pursuit of this purpose, we have games that are “enhanced for multicore processors”, ads seen everywhere say that if you want your computer to behave better and faster, you should upgrade your processor to the new “bla bla bla” which brings you the heaven, the earth and everything in between.

Of course that the multicore processors give processing advantage over single core processors, but don’t expect to see anything that spectacular as the commercials want you to believe. It is the same thing as with the PCI Express interface: as opposed to the AGP interface, the first of the two had a larger perspective in the future, many possible uses, but, at its release, it was marketed as being a “necessary upgrade” and speed was the given motive, claiming it would transfer more information and reduce those nasty memory bottlenecks which caused the system to hang (mostly) during video applications.

Somebody has to come along from time to time and break the ice, and it’s the turn of Israel-based Startup Mplicity Ltd. Company to take the spotlight with what they claim to be a revolutionary technology which allows a single threaded system to perform similarly to a multithreaded system with a performance improvement factor of up to four. They have developed a software called CoreUpGrade which is independent of processor architecture and has the ability of creating up to four virtual processors which all in term process the information such as independent processors would.

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Seagate’s technology of the future

21. September 2008

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The contest between HDD units’ manufacturers has already reached an all time high. As we told you in out previous articles on the subject, Seagate Technologies has announced the launch of 10 new products, out of which one, the 2.5 inch 160GB notebook HDD, is using the perpendicular technology.

The implementation of this technology represents a very
important step in the American manufacturer’s competition with the Japanese from Hitachi and Toshiba. The two companies, despite announcing their intention to launch this technology, have come up with nothing solid so far.

The main target of the products using perpendicular technology is represented by the portable devices, either notebooks, iPods, or any other products from the same range. In fact, portability being an ever increasing trend, all the major manufacturers are doing their best to face up to the challenge, by launching solutions that offer more storage space, occupy less space and are less expensive.

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Green From Tangent

27. August 2008

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The market for all-in-one desktop computer systems is certainly growing as a number of new manufacturers are announcing their own all-in-one solutions. Currently, Apple is the undisputed leader, with major names such as HP, Dell, Gateway and Sony following in its footsteps, with their own products. Systems like the iMac, XPS One or Gateway One can provide users with everything they need in a mainstream
and high-performance desktop computer system, but in a more compact and user friendly package. Tangent, a company that also specializes in computing devices and all-in-one systems, announced today the Evergreen 17.

Unlike most of the other all-in-one systems currently available on the market, the Evergreen 17 has been designed as an ultra power efficient all-in-one computer with touch-screen display. Built as a “green” PC, Tangent claims that the Evergreen 17 is environmentally-friendly and has extremely low power requirements, and according to the company, the system has been designed to meet the computing requirements of schools.

“Not only do users experience computing with a touch screen LCD in a space-saving form factor, they also get industry leading power efficiency at 24 watts and 72% less energy usage than Energy Star 4.0 limits,” said Douglas Monsour, Tangent president. “This translates into cost-savings while, at the same time, helping the environment.”

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Laptops Sophistication for Us

30. July 2008

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Computer has become the Alma mater of a man. People are so badly dependent on these enormously capable artificial beasts that they don’t find even a single second of their working hours to spend without them. They need it even when they are on the move and that’s what has made way for the all new laptops. These devices have indeed taken the life of a man to a new and advanced spirit level.

Laptops are portable computers which are as powerful as the normal PCs but these come in a highly sophisticated form and light weight. These have an extremely sleek as well as compact body. They are also termed as notebook computer. It runs by a single battery which runs for a considerable time when fully charged. They can also run from an AC/DC adaptor that while supplying the power to the gadget keeps on charging as well. Laptops as well as the desktop computer share the same configurations. The only difference lies in their cabinet and their screens.

The laptops usually flaunt an LCD display. Most of these employ memory modules for their RAMs. The modern laptops feature 12 inch or further large display with an appreciable display resolution. These gadgets also come with PC cards or “ExpressCard expansion bay” for further memory expansions.

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How sound cards works

3. May 2008

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Before the invention of the sound card, a PC could make one sound – a beep. Although the computer could change the beep’s frequency and duration, it couldn’t change the volume or create other sounds.

At first, the beep acted primarily as a signal or a warning. Later, developers created music for the earliest PC games using beeps of different pitches and lengths. This music was not particularly realistic — you can hear samples from some of these soundtracks at Crossfire Designs.

Fortunately, computers’ sound capabilities increased greatly in the 1980s, when several manufacturers introduced add-on cards dedicated to controlling sound. Now, a computer with a sound card can do far more than just beep. It can produce 3-D audio for games or surround sound playback for DVDs. It can also capture and record sound from external sources.

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