Building a PC, A How To Part 1

Figure 1

When you look inside a computer, it may be intimidating at first. With so many wires, circuit boards and fans, it does look like a science experiment at times. However, once you've figured out the basic components, it doesn't seem so bad at all. In this series of guides we'll be going over the complete process of the assembly of a relatively powerful and respectable PC by today's standards. This first section will cover the preparation of the motherboard. In the next sections we'll be going over how to prepare the case, add expansion cards and drives. 

Figure 2

Before you dive in, make sure to ground yourself prior to touching any sensitive electronic components. Static electricity can cause serious and even ruin your components when you shock them. Grounding can be down by either touching the casing of a plugged in, but switched off computer power-supply. Also, to lower the risk of static electricity, as a rule of thumb, I usually go to a location where the floor is not carpet. 

Figure 3: No more spending hundreds on
 expensive Tech Stations

When we're assembling a PC, we will need a tech station to work at. We could spend $100 on a professional tech station. But since I don't have such funds for one, here's a cheap little trick. Take the box supplied with your motherboard, place it on the desk. Now place your motherboard on top of the box. Instant tech station.

Figure 4: Every LGA socket contains 
hundreds of pins that are extremely fragile

Next we're going to be installing the CPU. Now this process differs between Intel and AMD based systems. For most modern consumer Intel platforms, they use a LGA (Land Grid Array) type of socket. This means that the pins that transfer power, information, and all the things the CPU needs to function and do what it needs to do are all on the socket built on the motherboard. Where as most consumer AMD platforms, these pins are built onto the CPU not the board. For this guide we're going to be dealing with an AMD based platform. Be extremely careful with the pins on the bottom of the CPU. Mishandling could lead to bent pins which could ruin your CPU. A separate guide for Intel platforms will be coming up soon. 

Figure 5: Lift the arm

Lift the small arm on the side of the CPU socket all the way up. 

Figure 6: The gold triangle on the CPU lines
 up with the one molded in the socket

Position the CPU correct in the socket. For AMD processors, there is a gold triangle on the corner of the CPU. Line that up with the triangle on your CPU socket. Drop the CPU into it's correct position so all the pins fall into it's corresponding hole in the socket. I usually give the CPU a little wiggle just to make sure it's in correctly. Once it's in correctly, pull down the arm back to the locked position. Do not panic if it requires a bit of force, this is to lock the CPU in place.   

Figure 7: Apply thermal material
 on center of CPU

Before installing the CPU heatsink, thermal compound is required to ensure efficient heat transfer from the CPU to the cooler. For most cooling solutions included with CPUs, this material is usually pre-applied so you can skip this step. (Will appear to be a gray pad on the bottom of your cooler) If not, apply a small amount of thermal material onto the centre of the CPU. An amount the size of a small uncooked grain of rice is a good benchmark. 

Figure 8: Relatively good amount of thermal material

Figure 9: Tabs on mounting bracket

Figure 10 A: Pull tab to lock cooler in place 

Now it's time to install the heatsink. Many aftermarket coolers use custom mounting hardware to ensure optimum security. For the stock cooler, simply hook the hooks on the cooler to the tabs on the CPU socket bracket. Once both sides are hooked on and the cooler is snug on top of the CPU, pull the arm of the cooler to the lock position. Like pulling down the tab of the CPU socket, it will require some force. This is to ensure there is enough pressure to maintain good contact between the CPU and cooler for maximum cooling. 

Figure 10 B

Figure 11 A: CPU Fan header

Figure 11 B: 4 Pin header

The last step of CPU installation is to hook up the fan on your heatsink. To to this, simply find the header that's labeled CPU FAN or refer to your motherboard's manual. When plugging the the connector, take note of the two tabs on the plug, this lines up with the side of the connector with the plastic wall. 

Figure 12

Now it's time to move onto memory. To the left of your CPU, is the standard position of where the memory lives in your computer. In most cases, motherboards will have two pairs of these slots, though some boards can range from one to four pairs of memory slots. In the case of four pairs of memory slots, two pairs will be on the right of the CPU while the other two pairs will be on the left. 

Figure 13: Position module just above the slot to align
with the tab

Start by deciding which memory slots you will be using. If you memory is rated for dual channel operation, then make sure you install the two modules in slots of the same colour. For example, in the picture above, I would install both dual channel sticks in the two red slots. 

Figure 15

Making sure you have the correct type of memory for your board, gently rest the module into one of the slots, just above the connector. Make sure the notch in the memory module lines up correctly with the notch in the slot. If you were to force the module into the slot when they notches are not lined up correctly, you can potentially damage either or both the memory module and motherboard. Once you have made sure everything lines up, push down on both ends of the module until the locks in the socket engage.

Figure 16: Now ready to prepare the case

This ends the first section of the tutorial. Keep it locked on McMathTechTips as we'll be continuing this PC build in the next section.

Xperia Z1 Compact, the First True High-end Small Form-factor Android Phone.

When talking about screen sizes, five inches can be quite a hassle to fit in normal size pockets. Nor comfortable for single handed use for most users. Sadly enough, that's the size class that most Android flagship devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, and the HTC One only come in.

Samsung saw this issue and has addressed this issue with their Galaxy S3 Mini and their recent Galaxy S4 Mini. Now you would believe that with the same S3 or S4 branding, you'll be getting the same power found in Samsung's flagship devices but in a smaller form factor. However, under closer inspection you'll reveal that the S4 Mini is half of what its larger S4 cousin in every possible way: screen size, battery, processor speed, number of cores, camera quality, and RAM. The same issue also plagues the HTC One Mini. Which begs the question, is there really such thing as a small form factor flagship?

 

Xperia Z1 (Left) compared to Compact brother (Right

The answer, yes.

Just recently at CES 2014, Sony has released the new Xperia Z1 Compact. In a nutshell, the Z1 compact has everything that the bigger brother Z1 had. Still boasting the zippy Snapdragon 800 Quad Core CPU running at 2.2 GHz, 2GB of RAM, Adreno 330 GPU, the same 20.7 MP Camera with Sony's Exmor RS® for mobile image sensor, as well as the same waterproof features with Sony's OmniBalance design language. Still running the same identical Sony interface as the original Z1 with the Sony ecosystem including Walkman, Albums, Movies, Sony Select and much more.

Unfortunately however, due to the smaller form factor, the display has been downgraded to 720p Triluminos display retaining a 342 ppi rather than the 1080p variety on the original Z1.Though you'll still have the Bravia Engine hard at work behind the scenes so image quality will still be extremely clear and life like.

Xperia Z1 Compact (Left) compared to iPhone 5S (Right)

Expect availability to come later this year and the price relatively close to the Original Z1. Don't expect the device to be priced much lower than it's larger counterpart as this is still packing the best hardware available. This device is mainly for the people who have small hands and want a high-end smartphone but don't want to deal with the bulkiness of a 5 inch or larger display. It's about time a device like this has come to the Android market as it was in dire need of one for a long time. iPhone users have loved the performance mated with the comfort of the 4 and 5, now the android side has something that is compelling for their user base.

Earlier this week, Bill Gates gave us his thoughts of which type of aid is more important. Full article through this link: http://venturebeat.com/2013/11/03/bill-gates-internet-connectivity-doesnt-mean-much-of-youre-dying-of-starvation/

For the most part, I agree with Gates completely. I think that there should be a balance between the two. One of the biggest problems in places like Africa, is the lack of education in those areas. So even though I don't believe we should go heading towards the idea of providing every child in Africa a computer and internet access, something like a community internet hub would be a tremendous solution. So overall, when giving aid, there has to be a balance between the the most basic necessity of life and a relatively new human right.

Share with us your thoughts in the comment section below!

Apple Patent Wars Strike Again

Could this be the return of physical keyboards?

Are you kidding me? Just when they released something that I was totally excited about, they do something that completely turns me away from the company yet again. Apple has filed another patent case; but this time, the patent is on touch typing and multi-touch. Now that this case has been upheld, this means that there is a possibility of a BAN of most Android handsets on the market. Now several OEMs like Microsoft and Nokia are fine because of the way Microsoft and Apple has cross-licensed patents all the time. However, that being said, this is a complete disaster for not only OEMs like Samsung, Sony, Lenovo, and .etc, but for the entire mobile device industry has a whole. The reason I say that is because competition drives innovation. Competition is what drives technology forward. If Apple were to ban upright over a half of their competition, then we could see the progression of mobile devices slow down dramatically. And from a consumer stand-point, this is scary business since we love choices and options. Apple is basically ripping that out of our hands.

To be honest, I find that what Apple is doing is completely ridiculous. What I wanted to see from Apple was a company that innovates, not a company that throws punches left and right. How the technology industry works is by companies leapfrogging each other. In fact, this practice is shown in almost every industry. For example, Auto manufactures. Car manufacturers like Mercedes Benz, Mazda, and many others, have made their own variation of BMW's iDrive System. A simple and easy controller to navigate through a car's entertainment system. So what does BMW do in response? They continue to improve upon it, nothing more. Not the kind of response Apple is currently putting together.

There are solutions for Android OEMs. One of which is to go back to the physical keyboard. Whether that would be the solution everyone follows is unknown. However, what is clear is what Apple's current motive is.

Let us know how you feel about this verdict in the comment section!

Kill the start button in your windows 8.1

Start button is back, yeah! How about........No. People kept complaining about the Windows button is gone, to me it's the best thing ever. I used Windows XP and 7 and I hate it all the time, it's just useless to me, I barely touched that button, all I do with it was Start->cmd. That's it, and this thing occupied an icon space in my task bar, what a waste of space.

When Windows 8 deleted the button for Windows 8, it's such a good news to me. But people started to complain it's disappearance and in Windows 8.1, it's back.....again. Seems like I'm not the only one who doesn't like the Windows 8.1 start button. Because people finally get used to it's disappearance or because the button was even useless than the one before with a terrible look.

Lots of people complain about it's limits. All you can do with this new one is the list in this picture. No access to recent programs or direct search or links to folders.

So, why waste a space in the task bar to put a ugly and useless button there. Let's kill it. =]

Here's how you do it.
Step 1: Click HERE to download StartIsGone
Step 2: Run the x86 ver if you have a 32bit Windows 8.1 or x64 ver if you have a 64bit Windows 8.1
Step 3: Run it at start up
Step 4: Enjoy Windows 8.1 without the Start button every time you boot your computer

Source:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/
http://winaero.com/

Everything you Need to Know About Slowdowns Caused by RAM

Have you ever heard to expression "download some more RAM"? Many tech savvy would tell you that this is a joke and could potentially harm your computer should you follow that statement.

RAM, is short form for "Random Access Memory". In short, RAM is how much usable memory that your computer has at its disposal. There are two parts in choosing memory kits. One of course is the capacity of the module. The other is the speed the module runs at. In short, the speed of the module would not matter to the average end user. The reason being is that the difference in performance wouldn't be noticeable in daily applications like editing documents and browsing the internet. However, capacity size is where things really start to matter. It's no big deal when you have a surplus of memory for the daily tasks you do. However, once you start running out of memory, what ends up happening is that your computer will now use allocated space in the Hard Drive as memory. And since the speeds of which hard drives run at in terms or reads and writes is no where near the blazing speeds of a memory module, you can anticipate dramatic system slow downs once you hit and go over that barrier.

So you way be wondering how you can see if you have enough RAM or not. A simple way to find out is by going into your Task Manager (CTR + ALT + DELETE). Under "Performance" you can see a graph of how much free memory you have left at your disposal.

If you find that your system is running slowly and you are running short on memory, there are a few tricks you can do to free up some of that memory. One of which is see how many tabs you have open in your Internet browser. Internet browsers are one of the biggest memory hogs in a system and the more tabs you have open, the more memory it's going to take up since all that information has to be stored for quick access.

If you can't change your internet habits, then looking into a RAM upgrade could be a solution for your computer slow down problems. That being said, make sure that your system has support for higher memory capacities. Most modern computers (even about 3 or so years old) don't have a problem with higher RAM capacity support. However, many older systems do have a limit of how much RAM they can handle or account for. And make sure you are getting the right kind of modules for your specific system. Most modern systems nowadays use memory called DDR3 SDRAM. DDR stands for Double Data Rate and SDRAM stands for Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. Older systems could be running on DDR2 SDRAM or DDR1 SDRAM, older standards of DDR SDRAM. So make sure you find the right kit for your system. (DDR1 and DDR2 are already phased out standards, meaning finding these parts could be both pricey and hard to come by. In this case, a completely new system with a more modern platform could be the better route to follow.)

If you are still facing slow downs, then the problem might be elsewhere. These could include viruses or ad-ware infections, software problems or just plain old aging hardware. If that's the case, you may want to consider re-installing your OS or an entire platform upgrade.

Mac OSX Mavericks, Finally Something From Apple I Got Excited For

Ever since the first addition of Mac OSX, it has been named after some feline of some sort. Now however, Apple is ditching that naming scheme and has released Mavericks during their live press conference today.

Now the user interface may look unchanged. In fact, it looks the same as the OS that was shipped out for several years. Most of the improvements done on the OS was to the workings under the hood. Mavericks is promising higher battery efficiency and the usual bunch. But an interesting feature Apple has come up with is the ability to compress memory for inactive RAM. Which means you could have up to 6 GBs of data on 4 GBs of RAM. Pretty cool stuff. Other changes are higher allocated system RAM as a GPU frame buffer so the GPU can grab more memory on demand. The average user might wonder how it would apply to them. Well the answer is that Mavericks now supports Open GL which is claimed to show up to 1.8x faster performance with supported workloads. 

Other additions include iBooks and Maps Apps, better multi-display support as well as the ability to view notifications on the side so they don't become a big distraction. 

And here's the kicker, the update is FREE for users who have bought an Apple computer in the last few years. Even iMacs dating back to 2007 are eligible for the upgrade.

Link to Apple's Upgrade Page

Changes like these are actually pretty exciting. For the longest time, OSX seemed very dull to me. Nothing about the OS really seemed to appeal to me in any way shape or form. With Mavericks, I can see a larger reason why I would consider adding Mac in my toolkit.