Thursday, January 31, 2008

DVD Drive Installing


When you are ready to begin installing your new DVD Drive, have plenty of roon on your desk or table to work. Allow enough space to move around and to be able to move the system unit as well.
Check to see if you have ample light. You may want to have a container to place small screws in. The system unit cover may have small screws and you don't want to lose them.
After you have plenty of work space and ample lighting, prepare your mind as well. Make this and every other adventure of working on your computer educational and fun.
REMOVE THE COMPUTER COVER
First
Turn off your computer and unplug all peripherals. Take notice of how you unplug or disconnect any devices.
Second
Remove the side panel of the tower system or the cover if you have a desktop. Place the panel in a safe place well out of the way.
Third
Before touching anything inside the system unit, remove electrical static charge from your body by touching a door knob or any unpainted metal surface.
Fourth
Remove the new drive from its protective wrapping and take the time to read through the manual. Be sure you have all components and save the box just in case it need to be returned.
Fifth
Check the jumper settings on the drive to be sure it is set to master. If you are adding this drive as a second drive, you will have to set one as master and one as the slave drive.
Your manual should make this procedure quick and fast. A small pair of tweezers can be used to remove the small jumper to the correct position. Most drives are set to master by default.
SLIDE NEW DRIVE IN COMPUTER
Sixth
Locate the drive bay for the cdrom drive. In most cases, its at the top of the case. If you are removing another drive, slide it out partially, disconnect cables, and slide the drive out completely. Take note of the location of all connections.
If you are installing a new drive the first time, use a small screwdriver to pop off the 5. 25 inch drive bay cover and bezel on the system unit case.
Seventh
Slide the new drive in partially and connect the data, sound, and power cables to the rear of the drive. Slide the drive in completely and use small screws to secure the drive to the case.
In some cases, the drive is secured to the case with the use of Drive rails. These rails should be mounted on the old drive if you had to remove one. Check the drive's manual if your new drive came with side rails.
When connecting the cable, carefully graps the cables by the ends and not the wires themselves. Carefully but firmly push the connectors into their sockets until you are certain of a good connection.
If you are installing this drive as a second drive and have made this drive the secondary or slave drive, connect the drive to the center connector on the Ribbon cable. The master drive must be at the end.
Eighth
After all cables are re-connected to the drive and the drive is secured to the case, replace the system unit cover, reconnect all peripherals. Be sure the faceplate of the drive is flush with the front of the computer.
SETUP YOUR NEW DVD DRIVE
Ninth
Boot up the computer and in nearly all cases, the operating system should detect the new drive and install the device driver if necessary.
In most cases, new cdroms and dvd drives will not come with a cdrom or diskette with a device driver. Windows should install the drive with ease.
Some new drives will come with a cdrom full of software, such as games, music, or movies. Check this cdrom for software utilities that you may need to help run and operate your drive.
Tenth
Check your new drive to see if Windows has recognized it. Click on My Computer and you should see the drives installed. Check for both drives if you installed the drive as a second drive.
And that's it. You can now use the drive as a huge data backup. Or you may want to make movies. Whatever the case, check the drive for compatbility with other drives.
Take the time to learn absolutely everything about that computer you're reading this with. Quickly master the art of installing not just the dvd drive, but all drives and other components.

DVD RECORDING PROCEDURE


1. DVD recorders in the closet should be on already and should not be turned off. If the power happens to be off, press the power button to turn the machine on, but there is a time lag of 5-10 minutes before the machine is ready to record.

2. Press the [OPEN/CLOSE] button to open the DVD drive bay and insert the DVD-Ram disk. Do not use DVD-R, DVD-RW, or CD-RW disks.

3. Press the [OPEN/CLOSE] button again to close the drive.

4. Press the [CHANNEL UP / DOWN] button to set the recorder to your office channel.

5. Press the [RECORD] button to begin recording.

6. Flip the camera switch in your office to [ON] after the client gives their consent to be recorded.

7. When recording is finished, press the [STOP] button.

8. Press the [OPEN/ CLOSE] button to open the drive door and remove the disk from the drive. Press the [OPEN/ CLOSE] button again to close the drive.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Sunday, January 20, 2008

CPU Socket


CPU Socket

A CPU socket or CPU slot is a connector on a computer's motherboard that accepts a CPU and forms an electrical interface with it. As of 2007, most desktop and server computers, particularly those based on the Intel x86 architecture, include socketed processors.

Most CPU-sockets interfaces are based on the pin grid array (PGA) architecture, in which short, stiff pins on the underside of the processor package mate with holes in the socket. To minimize the risk of bent pins, zero insertion force (ZIF) sockets allow the processor to be inserted without any resistance, then grip the pins firmly to ensure a reliable contact after a lever is flipped.

As of 2007, several current and upcoming socket designs use land grid array (LGA) technology instead. In this design, it is the socket which contains pins. The pins contact pads or lands on the bottom of the processor package.

In the late 1990s, many x86 processors fit into slots, rather than sockets. CPU slots are single-edged connectors similar to expansion slots, into which a PCB holding a processor is inserted. Slotted CPU packages offered two advantages: L2 cache memory could be upgraded by installing an additional chip onto the processor PCB, and processor insertion and removal was often easier. However, slotted packages require longer traces between the CPU and chipset, and therefore became unsuitable as clock speeds passed 500 MHz. Slots were abandoned with the introduction of AMD's Socket A and Intel's Socket 370.

CPU PACKAGE TYPES


FC-PGA Package Type
The FC-PGA package is short for flip chip pin grid array, which have pins that are inserted into a socket. These chips are turned upside down so that the die or the part of the processor that makes up the computer chip is exposed on the top of the processor. By having the die exposed allows the thermal solution can be applied directly to the die, which allows for more efficient cooling of the chip. To enhance the performance of the package by decoupling the power and ground signals, FC-PGA processors have discrete capacitors and resistors on the bottom of the processor, in the capacitor placement area (center of processor). The pins on the bottom of the chip are staggered. In addition, the pins are arranged in a way that the processor can only be inserted one way into the socket. The FC-PGA package is used in Pentium® III and Intel® Celeron® processors, which use 370 pins.

FC-LGA4 Package Type
The FC-LGA4 package is used with Pentium® 4 processors designed for the LGA775 socket. FC-LGA4 is short for Flip Chip Land Grid Array 4. FC (Flip Chip) means that the processor die is on top of the substrate on the opposite side from the LAND contacts. LGA (LAND Grid Array) refers to how the processor die is attached to the substrate. The number 4 stands for the revision number of the package. This package consists of a processor core mounted on a substrate land-carrier. An integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) is attached to the package substrate and core and serves as the mating surface for the processor component thermal solution such as a heatsink.You may also see references to processors in the 775-LAND package. This refers to the number of contacts that the new package contains that interface with the LGA775 socket. The pictures below include the LAND Slide Cover (LSC). This black cover protects the processor contacts from damage and contamination and should be retained and placed on the processor whenever it is removed from the LGA775 socket.

OOI Package Type
OOI is short for OLGA. OLGA stands for Organic Land Grid Array. The OLGA chips also use a flip chip design, where the processor is attached to the substrate facedown for better signal integrity, more efficient heat removal and lower inductance. The OOI then has an Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) that helps heatsink dissipation to a properly attached fan heatsink. The OOI is used by the Pentium 4 processor, which has 423 pins.

PGA Package Type
PGA is short for Pin Grid Array, and these processors have pins that are inserted into a socket. To improve thermal conductivity, the PGA uses a nickel plated copper heat slug on top of the processor. The pins on the bottom of the chip are staggered. In addition, the pins are arranged in a way that the processor can only be inserted one way into the socket. The PGA package is used by the Intel Xeon™ processor, which has 603 pins.

PPGA Package Type
PPGA is short for Plastic Pin Grid Array, and these processors have pins that are inserted into a socket. To improve thermal conductivity, the PPGA uses a nickel plated copper heat slug on top of the processor. The pins on the bottom of the chip are staggered. In addition, the pins are arranged in a way that the processor can only be inserted one way into the socket. The PPGA package is used by early Intel Celeron processors, which have 370 pins.

S.E.C.C. Package Type
S.E.C.C. is short for Single Edge Contact Cartridge. To connect to the motherboard, the processor is inserted into a slot. Instead of having pins, it uses goldfinger contacts, which the processor uses to carry its signals back and forth. The S.E.C.C. is covered with a metal shell that covers the top of the entire cartridge assembly. The back of the cartridge is a thermal plate that acts as a heatsink. Inside the S.E.C.C., most processors have a printed circuit board called the substrate that links together the processor, the L2 cache and the bus termination circuits. The S.E.C.C. package was used in the Intel Pentium II processors, which have 242 contacts and the Pentium® II Xeon™ and Pentium III Xeon processors, which have 330 contacts.

S.E.C.C.2 Package Type
The S.E.C.C.2 package is similar to the S.E.C.C. package except the S.E.C.C.2 uses less casing and does not include the thermal plate. The S.E.C.C.2 package was used in some later versions of the Pentium II processor and Pentium III processor (242 contacts).

S.E.P. Package Type
S.E.P. is short for Single Edge Processor. The S.E.P. package is similar to a S.E.C.C. or S.E.C.C.2 package but it has no covering. In addition, the substrate (circuit board) is visible from the bottom side. The S.E.P. package was used by early Intel Celeron processors, which have 242 contacts.

FC-PGA2 Package Type
FC-PGA2 packages are similar to the FC-PGA package type, except these processors also have an Integrated Heat Sink (IHS). The integrated heat sink is attached directly to the die of the processor during manufacturing. Since the IHS makes a good thermal contact with the die and it offers a larger surface area for better heat dissipation, it can significantly increase thermal conductivity. The FC-PGA2 package is used in Pentium III and Intel Celeron processor (370 pins) and the Pentium 4 processor (478 pins).

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Motherboard Form Factors

MOTHERBOARD FORM FACTORS

AT

Form Factor The AT form factor is the oldest and the biggest form factor. It was popular until the Baby AT was released, which was around the time of the 386 processor (1992-93). The reason that prompted the Baby AT was the width of the AT (12") and the fact that the board was difficult to install, service, and upgrade. BABY ATThe Baby AT was the standard in the PC industry from roughly 1993-1997. It is still being used today, usually in Pentium class products. Some issues with the AT and Baby AT design is the location of the features on the board. The CPU socket is placed so that it may interfere with longer bus cards. In some designs the memory sockets are similarly placed. This can limit the amount and selection of peripheral cards you can install. Also the IO ports are separate and mounted on the case and connected to pin-outs on the motherboard. These are usually located near the floppy and IDE pin-outs and can result in quite a jumble of ribbon cables.
ATX

was developed as an evolution of the Baby AT form factor and was defined to address four areas of improvement: enhanced ease of use, better support for current and future I/O, better support for current and future processor technology, and reduced total system cost. The ATX is basically a Baby AT rotated 90 degrees and providing a new mounting configuration for the power supply. The processor is relocated away from the expansion slots, allowing them to hold full length add-in cards. The longer side of the board is used to host more on-board I/O. The ATX power supply, rather than blowing air out of the chassis, as in most Baby AT platforms, provides air-flow through the chassis and across the processor. Mini-ATX This form factor is basically the same as ATX with a smaller allowable board size. ATX = 12" x 9.6" Mini-ATX = 11.2" x 8.2" microATX This form factor was developed as a natural evolution of the ATX form factor to address new market trends and PC technologies. microATX supports: Current processor technologies The transition to newer processor technologies AGP high performance graphics solutions Smaller motherboard size Smaller power supply form factor FlexATX A subset of the microATX design. FlexATX offers the opportunity for system developers to create many new personal computer designs. FlexATX allows enhanced flexibility where conforming motherboards may be enclosed; that is, all-in-one computing devices, LCD-personal computers, or standard desktop systems. This form factor is designed to allow very custom case and board designs to be manufactured. For example; The NBA could commission computers that looked like basketballs. There is not too much limit on the shape of the board and case. We should see some very interesting system designs emerging from this form factor. Supports current socketed processor technologies Smaller motherboard size ATX 2.03 I/O panel Same mounting holes as microATX Socket only processors to keep the size small

LPX & Mini LPX

This is based on a design by Western Digital. The expansion slots are on a single riser card which is mounted onto the planar board. Mainly OEM manufacturers (i.e. Packard Bell/NEC, Dell, etc) use these boards.LPX is an older form factor (8.67" x 9.25") that has been replaced by NLX. The LPX form factor is usually found in desktop model PCs. The LPX case is a slim-line, low-profile case with a riser card arrangement for expansion cards. This means that expansion boards are parallel to the motherboard, rather than perpendicular to it as in other common form factors, such as AT and ATX. This allows for smaller cases, but limits the number of expansion slots, usually to two or three.LPX motherboards often have the video adapters integrated onto the motherboard, and they may have integrated sound as well. This can provide a high-quality product at low cost, but can make upgrading or repair difficult. It is not always possible to disable the built-in video adapter cards to allow for an upgrade. LPX motherboards also usually come with serial, parallel, and mouse connectors attached to them, like ATX.The LPX case and motherboard design are not designed for a home PC builder, as they can be cramped and difficult to work in, as well as being non-standard. They also offer poor expandability, poor upgradability, poor cooling, and difficulty of use for the home PC builder.NLX

NLX
The Computers Back Connector PanelBy Stephen BucaroMany people get very nervous when they have to move a computer or connect a device to a computer because the back panel of a computer looks like a tangled mess of cables and wires. It may appear to be a tangled mess, but the connectors on the back panel actually conform to a standard layout. The current standard is called the "ATX form factor".Looking at the back of your computer, you can see that it is divided into three sections. The power supply is at the top, the connectors are in the middle, and the expansion board slots are at the bottom.

Backplane

A backplane (or "backplane system") is a circuit board (usually a printed circuit board) that connects several connectors in parallel to each other, so that each pin of each connector is linked to the same relative pin of all the other connectors[1], forming a computer bus. It is used as a backbone to connect several printed circuit board cards together to make up a complete computer system. One popular early computer system that used this approach was called the S-100 bus because the connectors used had one hundred pins. Early personal computers like the Apple II and the IBM PC integrated an internal backplane for expansion cards.
While a motherboard may include a backplane, the backplane is actually a separate entity. A backplane is generally differentiated from a
motherboard by the lack of on-board processing power where the CPU is on a plug-in card.
Backplanes are normally used in preference to cables because of their greater
reliability. In a cabled system, the cables need to be flexed every time that a card is added to or removed from the system; and this flexing eventually causes mechanical failures. A backplane does not suffer from this problem, so its service life is limited only by the longevity of its connectors. For example, the DIN 41612 connectors used in the VMEbus system can withstand 50 to 500 insertions and removals (called mating cycles), depending on their quality.
A backplane provides minimal functionality without a controlling
Single Board Computer installed providing the CPU and other computer functions. A Single Board Computer meeting the PICMG 1.3 specification and compatible with a PICMG 1.3 backplane is referred to as a System Host Board.
A backplane can be used without an associated
Single Board Computer to simply provide power to the plug-in cards. This is a common usage for companies manufacturing plug-in cards to power them for burn-in.
In addition, there are bus expansion cables which will extend a computer bus to an external backplane, usually located in an enclosure, to provide more or different slots than what the host computer provides. These cable sets have a transmitter board located in the computer, an expansion board in the remote backplane, and a cable between the two. Bus expansion cables do not need a
Single Board Computer in the remote bus to control the I/O cards as that is provided by the expansion electronics.