Archive for August, 2009
What’s the difference between Intel Dual Core and Core 2 Duo?
- Intel’s Core 2 Duo & Dual Core processors
The simple answer is, “not much difference.” Both are Pentium processors and both contain two separate processing cores. Intel’s Dual Core and Core 2 Duo are two product lines. The Pentium Dual Core is the budget line and the Core 2 Duo the premium line. These CPU’s are 95% identical. The premium Core 2 Duo has higher L2 cache. That is really the only technical difference between the two lines of processors.
The Core 2 Duo has between 2 and 6 MB cache. The Pentium Dual Core line only has 1 MB cache. By the way, each processor has an Intel number, like e5200 or e7500, so you can look up the specs online. Is it worth shelling out a couple hundred bucks for more MB cache? If you know how to over clock your processor, or you are using the PC for home and small office use, the answer is no. The Pentium Dual Core will be just fine. However, for each MB of cache you probably increase system responsiveness by 10%. That means if you spend another $200 for a Core 2 Duo with 2 MB cache you will likely not feel the difference in performance. You are going to spend considerably more for 6 MB cache. Is it worth it? For most folks it isn’t.
How to Build a PC – Every Step Explained
Will Smith (not the actor) is the gentleman in the video and the editor of Maximum PC. They shot this video demonstration to show people how to build a killer PC, one step at a time. It’s really a great reference for beginners and experts alike. This video was created for viewing by attendees of Comic-Con 2009.
Is it still cheaper to build your own PC?
Build your own PC?
With so much competition in the PC marketplace it is generally less-expensive to buy a built PC than to build your own. Why? If you are looking to use a PC for basic business, or for home/student use, you simply can’t buy the pieces needed to build a PC for what you can buy a budget PC for these days. Of course if you are in the market for a gaming PC, or other high-end unit, you can actually save a little money on parts if you know what you are doing. However, once you factor in time, you will probably still be better off buying a built unit, that is, if you can find one that meats your specs.
On-the-other-hand building your own PC has value in itself. If you enjoy puzzles and tinkering the fun and excitement of building your own hotrod will be worth it. Another approach is to buy an expandable PC with the basic features you want and then to add components as you wish. This can save you money if, for example, the PC is expandable to 16 GB of RAM but you buy it with only 2 GB. Manufacturer RAM upgrades are usually much more expensive than it would be for you to buy and install your RAM after purchase. This may also be true of larger secondary hard drives.
In the final analysis you will usually do better just shopping around for the best deal. If you want to latest and greatest, you know what you are doing, and you enjoy the process, then building your own is the way to go.
This article is based on input from PC users here.
New Windows 7 Features and Keyboard Shortcuts
In this video Chris shows us some new features of Windows 7. You can see the new Aero features: Aero Snap, Aero Shake, and Aero Peak. Chris also explains how Jump Lists are used and shows the new pin to taskbar functionality. So have a short look and see what’s possible.
Now we show you the new and best keyboard shortcuts in Windows 7. Take a look, learn, and enjoy!
How the Internet Works and Tips On Solving Browser Problems
How does the Internet work? What is a browser? What should you be aware of when browsing the Net? Why do Web sites appear differently in different browser? With the help of Florian, and his aunt, we share tips and tricks regarding the use of a web browser. You will find the videos below helpful in explaining these concepts to others.
In this second video we explain how you can solve browser display problems and we provide some tips, tricks, and valuable resources for webmasters, web developers, and web designers. If your site is not working just right you really should watch this informative video.
What Is a Denial of Service (DoS) Attack?
The name of this attack, “denial of service” (DoS), refers to the intended result. Also known as a “distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack), these types of attacks attempt to make a Web site unresponsive, in other words to crash it. Of course the target can be any Internet site or service but the most likely targets are high-profile servers.
The perpetrators of these attacks usually flood the target with massive requests. The servers get overwhelmed and stop responding to legitimate requests. A “successful” denial of service attack forces the target computer to either reset or it consumes so much of the server’s resources that it can no longer provide service to its customers. These attacks are malicious, malevolent, and unethical. Perpetrators may be prosecuted under the laws of some countries.
For more technical information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial-of-service_attack.