Emachines W3653 Specifications

The eMachines W3653 is a desktop computer system sold only at Walmart. The system is bundled with a LCD monitor to make it a complete system in a box. EMachines first released the budget-friendly W3653 in 2008. The computer system with its large hard drive and fast processor is perfect for home and school use.

Processor Information

The processor in the computer is a 1.6GHz Intel Celeron dual-core E1200. Each core has a 512KB L2 cache and an 800MHz front side bus. The W3653 uses the Intel 945GC chipset.

Memory and Hard drive

The system comes with 1024MB of 667MHz DDR2 dual-channel memory. The computer has two DDR2 slots and the system is upgradeable to 2GB. The hard drive is a serial ATA-300 and it has 320GB of space.

Physical Characteristics

The eMachines W3653 comes in a tower case that measures 7.2 inches wide, 16.1 inches deep and 14.5 inches high. The unit weighs 21.6 pounds, not including the monitor.

Monitor

The monitor included with this system is the eMachines E17T6W. The 17-inch LCD monitor has a maximum resolution of 1,440 by 900 pixels and it has a wide-screen display. The response time is 8 milliseconds and the image contrast ratio is 600-to-1.

Other Features

The peripherals included with the W3653 are a mouse, speakers and keyboard. The system comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system installed on the computer and it comes loaded with other software. The system also has six USB ports. Two of the ports are on the front panel and the remaining four are on the back panel.

Tags: comes with, computer system, eMachines W3653, hard drive, included with

Repair The Dvd Drive In An Xbox 360

Repair the DVD Drive in an Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 can play video games, movies and CDs. However, like any other DVD drive, the DVD drive of the Xbox 360 may require repair. The DVD drive may require repairs for any number of reasons. There could be a jam in the drive or within the mechanical parts. With a few simple tools, you can fix the major problems with your Xbox 360 disc drive in no time.

Instructions

1. Unplug the Xbox 360 and move it to a working location, such as a flat desk surface.

2. Remove the hard drive unit of the Xbox 360. Not removing the hard drive may damage the drive, causing you to lose your gaming and media data. If the Xbox is in the vertical position, the hard drive is on top of the machine. On most models, the hard drive will be slightly elevated out from the machine. Press down on the button in front of the hard drive. The drive should come loose and can be fully removed by sliding the hard drive toward the back of the machine.

3. Remove the face plate of the Xbox 360. The face plate is the front cover of the Xbox 360 where the broken DVD drive is located. You must lift up the USB port door and press up, while you take your other hand and press down on the top of the Xbox. This should press out the face plate of the system.

4. Take out the bottom of the Xbox 360. Bend the bottom of the Xbox 360 from the front slightly. At this point, you can separate the Xbox 360 in half, exposing the internal hard drive of the system.

5. Lift the Xbox 360 DVD drive. The DVD drive is connected to a power wire, which is connected to the Xbox 360. You can simply disconnect the DVD drive from this wire. Now, you can investigate the DVD drive independently of the game system.

6. Flip over the DVD drive. You will see four screws that hold the DVD drive together. Unscrew the screws with your screwdriver.

7. Separate the bottom half from the top half of the DVD drive. A large computer chip should be exposed.

8. Press on the buttons to the left and right of the chip and safely lift of the computer chip. Do not lift too quickly as the chip is connected by wiring to the rest of the drive.

9. Disconnect the wires that connect to the chip. The wires can safely disconnect from the chip when you gently pull them. There will be four in all: two that connect to the chip across the drive, one that connects to the bottom of the drive and one that connects to the laser of the drive. You can disconnect the wire from the laser, not the computer chip.

10. Flip the Xbox DVD drive back over. The top of the drive should slide off.

11. Remove the front cover of the DVD entrance.

12. Flip the DVD drive back to the side where the computer chip was located. Press an exposed gray switch on the side of DVD drive entrance. This allows you to move the DVD tray out.

13. Investigate along the sides of the DVD drive. With the tray pushed out from the DVD drive, you can see whether there is anything physically blocking the DVD drive. Remove whatever is blocking the DVD drive with your hands.

14. Push the tray back in halfway. This allows you to see the front of the DVD drive. See whether there are any issues with the magnets that are lined across the front of the DVD drive. Wipe off any dust on the magnets with your finger.

15. Investigate whether any other aspect of the DVD drive looks broken. If you cannot find anything else wrong, begin putting the system back together. A thorough cleaning may help the DVD drive work again.

Tags: hard drive, computer chip, with your, drive drive, face plate, blocking drive

Difference Between Amd & Pentium

AMD and Pentium chips are processors manufactured by two different companies.

Since the ’90s, AMD and Intel have been the two main developers of CPU chips for use in home computers in the United States. While the companies’ chips have evolved at a roughly parallel pace, AMD and Intel Pentium chips handle computing issues in vastly different ways, although casual computer users probably won’t notice the difference.

Main Product Lines

AMD’s primary line of CPUs is the Athlon processor, while Pentium’s flagship line has been the Pentium. Pentiums were introduced in 1993 as the fifth-generation chip designed to supersede the 80486 chips. Pentiums have since been redeveloped and upgraded in successive generations. In 1999, AMD’s Athlon was launched as a competitor and rough computing equivalent to the Pentium III. Since then, both companies have redesigned and developed several distinct lines of processors to keep pace with advancing technology and keep up with consumer’s needs.

Pinout and Motherboard Differences

Although both brands of CPUs perform the same computing functions, they feature massive design differences. Each line of processors connects to motherboards differently, including different pinout sizes and alignments. Therefore, to replace a Pentium CPU with an Athlon chip, or vice versa, you must replace the motherboard's CPU socket as well.

Memory Controller

AMD’s Athlon chips include a memory controller unit inside the CPU itself, while Pentium CPUs off-load memory control to the motherboard. This allows AMD chips to access memory more quickly than Pentiums, though Pentiums can process more information while accessing memory. For most home users, the difference in memory access speed is unnoticeable.

3D Image Handling

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AMD and Pentium chips both use a system of SSE instructions when rendering complex graphics, such as 3D representations used in gaming. But AMD uses a combination of 3D Now and SSE technology. These differences have helped AMDs outperform Pentium chips in an independent survey by CNET.

Price vs. Performance

As of July 2010, Intel’s Pentium holds the overwhelming majority of the market share, and its upper- and lower-end systems are geared-and priced-toward both new users and heavy computing types. AMD’s range of processors leads the pack in middle-of-the-road chips, according to CNET.

Tags: Pentium chips, AMD’s Athlon

Run A Diagnostic On A Computer

Run a diagnostic on your computer.

After a while of using your computer, you may notice a drop in its efficiency. This can happen when there are too many programs running at once or because some programs are hogging your computer's memory. Sometimes, though, the problem lies much deeper. With so many parts on a computer, it can be intimidating to fix, but Windows has built-in diagnostic tools that can run a scan of your system. Before you run out and pay a computer technician, try fixing the problem yourself.

Instructions

1. Run Scandisk to check on the hard drive. Click "Start," then "Computer" (or "My Computer"). Right-click on your hard drive (usually "C:") and select "Properties." Go to the "Tools" tab and click "Check Now." Check the boxes labeled "Automatically Fix File Errors" and "Scan for and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors" and then select "Start."

2. Run the DirectX diagnostic tool to check for video card problems. Click "Start" and then type "dxdiag" in the search bar. Press "Enter" to run the program. You can look through the tabs such as "System," "Display," "Sounds" and "Input." at the bottom of each page will be a "Notes" section. If the tool finds any problems, they will be listed there.

3. Run the Network diagnostic tool if you are having a problem with your Internet. Click the "Start" button, then "Network," then select the "Network and Sharing Center" tab in the top frame. Choose "Diagnose and Repair." Windows will automatically attempt to fix the problem and will then explain to you what it thinks is wrong.

Tags: Click Start, your computer, Click Start then, diagnostic tool, hard drive, Start then, then select

Make Games Run In High Priority

Make Games Run in High Priority

Windows always has several operating system processes running in the background. These processes eat up speed and cause computer games to run slower and less fluidly. Fortunately, you can easily tell your computer to pay special attention to your computer game by setting it to run in high priority.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Start up your favorite computer game.

2. Log on or click through the game's launchers and enter the game client, where you actually play the game.

3. Access the Windows Task Manager. If your game runs in a window, right-click on the Windows Task Bar and select "Start Task Manager." If the game takes up the full screen, press "Ctrl" + "Alt" + "Delete." In Windows XP this opens the Task Manager directly. In Windows 7 and Windows Vista this brings up a dialogue screen that asks you what you want to do next. Choose "Start Task Manager."

4. Select the "Processes" tab to show which processes are running. Computer games usually run under a recognizable name such as "gamename.exe" or "gameacronym.exe." Locate the running process of your game.

5. Right-click on the running process of your game and scroll down to "Set Priority." As your mouse hovers over "Set Priority," a second dialogue window will pop up. The default setting should be set to "Normal." Anything above normal will shift computer processing power to your game and improve performance. Choose "High."

Tags: Task Manager, your game, computer game, Games High, Games High Priority, High Priority, Make Games

Does A Ddr3 Graphics Card Work On A Ddr2 Motherboard

Learn about memory and compatibility in computer graphics cards.

Novice computer users often get confused when assembling or upgrading their first computer. While the most common error is made when distinguishing system memory, RAM, from hard drive space, gaming computers have an extra wrinkle to worry about. Graphics cards use memory separately from the system memory mounted on the motherboard. Some graphics cards use the more typical DDR standard, though it's permanently attached to the graphics card circuitboard, while others use the new GDDR standard. For the most part, the internals of the graphics card aren't relevant to the rest of the computer -- it's all about the connection slot.

What Is DDR Memory?

DDR, or "Double Data Rate," is the standardized random access memory format for most desktop and laptop computers. DDR RAM comes in different generational standards: DDR, DDR2, DDR3 and the newer DDR4. RAM chips, known as DIMMs, come in only one format, as do the DIMM slots on motherboards, so a DDR3-compatible motherboard memory slot can accept only DDR3 RAM DIMMs -- RAM that uses an earlier or later standard is incompatible.

GDDR Memory and Graphics Cards

Modern graphics cards use a modified memory standard called GDDR, short for Graphics Double Data Rate. While similar, GDDR and DDR memory is not the same: Most importantly, GDDR memory is integrated into the graphics card and cannot be removed. Some older graphics cards use DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 memory, but this is also integrated into the card. Graphics cards of varying power come with different kinds of RAM - as of the date of publication, most cards feature GDDR4 or GDDR5 memory.

Graphics Card Motherboard Connections

Discrete desktop graphics cards are mounted inside a computer case and plugged directly into the motherboard. Three standard connections are used for graphics cards: PCI-Express (the most common and powerful), PCI and AGP. It is this connection that determines how much data can be shared between the graphics card and the other system components, such as the CPU, the system RAM and the hard drive. The expansion slot standard is the primary function for determining whether or not a graphics card is compatible with any given computer: If your motherboard has a PCI-E slot, it's compatible, if not ideally so, with all PCI-E graphics cards.

Graphics Card Memory and System Memory Compatability

Memory is an important part of game performance, but graphics memory and system memory are two different things. For better performance, it's best to have as much graphics memory AND system memory as possible, but the different standards used by the graphics card and the motherboard are largely irrelevant. As long as the graphics card uses the correct expansion slot standard, it will work with the corresponding motherboard, regardless of its DDR version.

Tags: graphics card, graphics card, graphics cards, system memory, Data Rate, DDR2 DDR3

Dissassemble An Asus G1

Dismantle your Asus G1 laptop.

The Asus G1 is the first in the Asus line of G-Series laptops. It was originally released as a laptop geared towards gamers, but its slow graphics card leaves much to be desired among 3-D gamers. The laptop features a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. It also comes installed with 2 GBs of RAM and a 160 GB internal hard drive. Dismantling the laptop requires removing many of its most important components.

Instructions

1. Power down the computer. Unplug the power cable and all external peripheral devices from the laptop. Close the LCD panel and place the laptop face down. Orient the computer so the front opening edge is facing you. Slide the battery release button downward and remove the battery pack from its compartment along the top edge of the laptop's bottom side.

2. Remove the processor and cooling fan compartment cover from the laptop's upper right corner. The plastic cover is fastened to the laptop by two Phillips screws. Remove the four Phillips screws fastening the heat sink device to the motherboard. The heat sink is a metal device with two copper pipes extending from it. Peel away the adhesive tape from the upper right corner of the compartment. Lift the heat sink off of the processor and out of the laptop.

3. Turn the processor's flat-head locking screw in the counterclockwise direction one-half turn to release the processor from its motherboard socket. Lift the processor out of its socket and out of the laptop. Store the removed processor and heat sink in static-free plastic bags.

4. Remove the memory compartment cover and its two retaining Phillips screws from the center of the laptop. Spread apart the retention clips securing the memory module inside the compartment. Tilt the memory module upward at a 45-degree angle and pull the module from its individual memory slot. Repeat this for each RAM module you remove from the laptop.

5. Locate the wireless card inside the memory compartment. Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the two antenna cables from the card. Remove the two Phillips screws fastening the wireless card in place. Tilt the card upward at an angle and pull it out of its motherboard connector. Remove the wireless card from the laptop.

6. Remove the hard disk drive compartment cover and its two Phillips screws from the laptop's upper right corner next to the empty battery compartment. Grasp the hard drive's plastic pull-tab. Slide the hard drive upward to disconnect the drive from its motherboard connectors. Lift the HDD out of its compartment and set it aside.

7. Use a flat-head screwdriver to disengage the spring-loaded retention latch securing the CD/DVD drive to the laptop's upper left corner. Doing so will eject the drive from its compartment. Grasp the face of the drive and pull it out of the laptop. Set it aside.

8. Remove all remaining Phillips screws from the laptop's base enclosure. Flip the laptop over and pull open the display panel as far as possible. Use a thin, flat-head screwdriver to disengage the keyboard's retention clips situated above the F1, F8 and Insert keys. Carefully pry the keyboard out of the laptop and place it face down on the palm rest. Unplug the keyboard's ribbon cable from the motherboard. Remove the keyboard from the laptop.

9. Close the display panel, and rotate the laptop so the hinges are facing you. Remove the two Phillips screws from each plastic hinge cover. Remove the hinge covers using your fingers. Remove the single Phillips screw revealed by each hinge cover. Disconnect the LCD cable next to each exposed hinge. Remove the two Phillips screws from the laptop's back panel.

10. Reopen the display panel and rotate the computer so the screen is facing you. Carefully lift the entire display assembly from the laptop's base. Disconnect the white ribbon cable connecting to the motherboard from the laptop's touchpad device. Disconnect all visible cables that connect to the motherboard from the laptop's top cover. Remove the remaining Phillips screws from the top cover and lift the top cover from the laptop's base to reveal the entire motherboard.

Tags: from laptop, Phillips screws, Phillips screws from, screws from, heat sink, compartment cover

Make A Gaming Laptop

Make a Gaming Laptop

While laptop systems were originally intended primarily for business applications, such as word processing, they have since reached a point where they are capable of serving as desktop replacements. If you would like to have full control over the type of laptop you want for the purpose of playing computer games, you can build your own machine instead of buying a fully assembled unit from a retailer. To build your own gaming laptop you will need to start with a "bare bones" computer case, which is sometimes referred to as a "white book," and then buy the specific components you want to use.

Instructions

1. Check the recommended system specs for the type of computer games you want to play and take note of them. Locate a bare bones laptop system that has the exact LCD screen size you want. Make sure the system's motherboard has an extra port for a graphics card and enough RAM ports for the amount of RAM memory you want to add. Check to see if the motherboard's sound adapter supports 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound in case you want to connect a computer speaker system to the laptop for gaming.

2. Buy a hard drive with a large enough capacity to store all of the games you will be installing. Purchase a graphics card that is compatible with your motherboard and exceeds the recommended speed of the games you want to play so that it will be able to properly display new games down the line. Buy a DVD drive and a network card. Check to see what type of socket the motherboard uses and then buy a processor that matches that socket type. Buy an installation disc for the specific operating system you want to use on the laptop.

3. Close the bare bones laptop's lid and remove the battery if it came pre-installed. Remove all of the screws located on the bottom side of the laptop case. Take off the plastic cover on the left side that covers the disc drive port. Pull off the two plastic covers at the center of the case that cover the RAM ports and hard drive port.

4. Insert the DVD drive into the disc drive port until it clicks and then reattach the screw that holds it in place. Push the hard drive into its port and then reattach the plastic cover and screws. Insert the RAM modules into their ports and then reattach the plastic cover and the screws. Do not reattach the other screws yet as they may hold the keyboard in place depending on the specific bare bones laptop system you bought.

5. Turn the system back over and open up the lid. Pop off the large plastic bezel connected to the laptop case in between the LCD screen and the keyboard. Disconnect the cable connecting the bezel to the motherboard if there is one present. Pull the keyboard off of the bare bones laptop and then disconnect its motherboard cable.

6. Check the layout of the pins on the bottom side of the processor and compare it to the socket on the lower right side of the laptop's motherboard. Line up the pins and then slowly push the processor directly down onto the socket. Connect the fan and heat sink unit that came with the processor on top and then attach the screws that hold it to the hard drive.

7. Snap the graphics card into the port located to the left of the processor. Connect its screws if it came with any. Attach the network card to the open port on the far left side of the motherboard. Reattach the keyboard, plastic bezel, and their motherboard cables. Reattach the remaining screws on the bottom side of the laptop. Put the battery back into the machine.

8. Power on the new laptop computer and then insert the operating system disc into the DVD drive. Follow the series of installation instructions that will appear on the screen to finish building your gaming laptop.

Tags: bare bones, bare bones laptop, bones laptop, hard drive, bottom side, drive port

Can Graphic Chips Be Replaced In Laptops

Upgrade your laptop graphic display.

Graphic chips generally can't be replaced in laptops. However, you can upgrade a small number of laptop graphics chips, depending on the brand of laptop and your specific model. Replacing a laptop graphic chip, even where possible, is an arduous task that should be attempted only by those well-schooled in working with laptop computers. If done properly, an upgraded chip will significantly outperform your old graphics driver.

Research

Before attempting to upgrade your laptop Graphics Processing Unit, retrieve all information available on your laptop. Concentrate on your specific model; construction varies even among the same manufacturers. The diagram of the motherboard of your unit tells you the location and connections of your GPU. If images are available, download those to find the placement of the motherboard connections. If an upgrade is available, order the component and examine it on arrival to verify that it is the correct part.

Opening the Armature

Before proceeding, disconnect the battery and power cord and attach a well-grounded anti-static wristband. Expose the motherboard on your laptop in one of several ways, depending on the laptop model. The removal of the keyboard will reveal the motherboard. Pop out the mouse pad if necessary to get to the keyboard to release. Use a flat-head screwdriver, very gently moving the head around the edges of the outlying crevices of the armature. Use the same procedure to pop the keyboard.

Working on the Motherboard

When the motherboard is exposed, locate the GPU, which is generally on the edge of the motherboard. Look for the component labeled "NVidia," "ATI," "Asus," "MSI" or "AMD" -- or it may read "video" or "vid." Gently work it free from its socket with your fingers or needle-nose pliers wrapped with a small felt cutting. Replace the new GPU in the same manner. Make the connections snug. You may have to unsolder the connections, replace the GPU and resolder. Use the appropriate micro-soldering equipment and flux to achieve clean, non-overlapping connections.

Reassembly

Before reassembly, test the components in an unassembled "open box" environment so that the new GPU functions as stipulated in the specifications. This requires clip wiring using mini-alligator or push pin clips to connect the detached components. Attach your anti-static wrist band and firmly ground the unit before applying power. Start the unit. When the monitor image appears to be satisfactory, cut off the power, disconnect clip wires and reassemble the unit.

Tags: your laptop, laptop graphic, motherboard your, specific model, your specific, your specific model

Compare Processor Performance

Compare Processor Performance

The computer processor, or CPU, is the heart of any computer system and the first item that a potential buyer should evaluate when buying a computer. However, comparing processors can be a little confusing for a relative novice. Start by evaluating these important factors when comparing processor performance.

Instructions

1. Research the number of cores that the processor has. By having more than one core, a processor is essentially two or more processors built into one. All other factors being equal, a processor with more cores will have more perform better than one with fewer cores. Single, double, and quad core processors are the most common (as of 2009).

2. Compare the processor's clock speed. This has traditionally been the most common way to compare CPUs. Processors with the higher clock speeds (expressed in Mhz) process at a faster rate.

3. Look at the processor's cache memory capabilities. Cache memory speeds up CPU processing by getting the data from recent operations and giving it to the processor. When comparing processors, the more cache memory, the better.

4. Compare the FSB, or front side bus speed, of the processors. This is an indication of how fast the CPU can transmit data to and from the memory controller. Slow FSB can mean the CPU is waiting for data transfers. The FSBs of processors are expressed in mega transfers per second (MT/s), and once again the higher the rating, the better.

Tags: better Compare, Compare Processor, Compare Processor Performance, comparing processors, data from, most common, Processor Performance

Connect Ethernet On The Ibm Aptiva E Series 595

Connect to the Internet through an Ethernet cable.

The IBM Aptiva E 595 is a desktop computer (now discontinued) last produced in 2003. Although the system has a few standard drives, such as a floppy disk drive and optional DVD drive, it does not come with a built-in Ethernet connection. Although it is possible to open up the system and install a new Ethernet card, doing so is time consuming and can possibly cause damage to the interior of the computer though static shocks.

Instructions

1. Connect the USB Ethernet adapter into one of the USB ports on the IBM Aptiva 595 computer.

2. Insert the driver installation CD into the disc drive and close the tray. If the driver installation wizard does not load automatically, click "Start," "My Computer" and double-click the CD icon. The driver installation wizard now loads.

3. Accept the license agreement, then click "Next" until you reach the installation page. Choose "Install" and the drivers install onto the computer.

4. Plug the Ethernet cable into an "Out" port on the DSL or cable modem. Connect the opposite end into the Ethernet "WAN" port on the USB Ethernet adapter. You are now set to begin using the Ethernet Internet connection on the IBM Aptiva E 595.

Tags: driver installation, Connect Ethernet, driver installation wizard, Ethernet adapter, Ethernet cable

Fix An Aacenter Exe Error

Aacenter.exe is a service that comes with the Asus mother board and is used to run the Asus ACPI center. It helps manage power consumption and power-related activities, but it's also known to use large amounts of CPU memory and slow down computer performance. It's not a malicious process, and you can disable Aacenter.exe easily if you do not use it. This simple process solves errors it creates and prevents it from loading at startup.

Instructions

1. Click the Windows "Start" button and click "All Programs." Scroll up and select "Accessories." Click "System Tools" and click "Task Scheduler."

2. Open the "Asus" folder and right-click "ASUS ACPI Service Provider." Click "Disable." Right-click "ASUS RegRun Loader" and click "Disable." This prevents this program from running at start-up. Move to the next step as an alternative to disabling this program.

3. Click the Windows "Start" button and click "Run" or "Start Search" (in Windows Vista). Type %programfiles% and press "Enter" to open the Program Files window.

4. Double-click "ASUS" and double-click "AASP." Double-click the "1.00.32" folder and locate Aacenter.exe.

5. Right-click "Aacenter.exe" and click "Rename." Rename it "Aacenter.xxx" (without quotes). This will disable it and fix the error.

Tags: button click, Click Windows, Click Windows Start, Start button, Start button click

The Gigabyte Bios Does Not See Sata

The basic input/output system (BIOS) on the Gigabyte motherboard detects and initializes the hardware connected to the computer. If the BIOS doesn't see the serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) hard drive when the computer turns on, the computer won't boot to the operating system. Both hardware connections and BIOS settings can prevent the Gigabyte motherboard from detecting the hard drive.

Motherboard Connections

At least one SATA device must connect to the "SATA0" port on the motherboard. The device that connects to "SATA0" is the computer's boot device -- the device that the computer loads the operating system from. If the hard drive is not plugged into "SATA0," the BIOS won't detect a bootable device to load from, resulting in an error. Check that you have the hard drive plugged into the correct port on the Gigabyte motherboard before turning on the computer.

Data and Power Cables

The SATA device connects to the motherboard through a 7-pin data cable. SATA data cables come in a variety of colors, such as blue, red or yellow, and have plastic, black connectors on either end. One end of the data cable connects to the SATA port on the motherboard. The other end of the cable plugs in to the SATA hard drive. If the data cable is not connected to either component, the Gigabyte BIOS won't see the SATA drive. The SATA hard drive also connects to a 15-pin power cable, which can be found hanging from the power supply.

BIOS Configuration

If the Gigabyte BIOS doesn't see a SATA device, the SATA controller could be disabled. Turn on or restart the PC and press "Del" on the boot screen to access the Gigabyte BIOS. Use the arrow pad to go to "Integrated Peripherals." Press "Enter" to open the menu. Select "OnChip SATA Controller" and use the "+" and "-" keys to change the setting to "Enabled." If the motherboard supports SATA 6 Gb/s technology, scroll to "OnChip Sata 3.0 Support" and enable the setting. Press "F10" to save and quit.

Hardware Problems

If the Gigabyte BIOS fails to detect the SATA device after troubleshooting the BIOS settings and the hardware connections, either the SATA device or the motherboard could be defective. Install the SATA device to another PC, if available, to check the hard drive. If the drive works when connected to the other computer, the SATA controllers on the motherboard could be faulty. On the other hand, if the other PC fails to see the hard drive as well, the hard drive could be dead.

Tags: hard drive, SATA device, data cable, Gigabyte BIOS, Gigabyte motherboard, SATA hard

Reset Bios On An Asus Laptop

Reset the BIOS settings after repairing or upgrading your ASUS laptop,

Reset the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) if you replace components or perform upgrades inside your Asus laptop. The BIOS contains all of the hardware settings for your notebook and you can update it to ensure compatibility with the operating system. BIOS can sometimes automatically detect changes in hardware while some replacements require a manual BIOS reset. Resetting the BIOS is easy and only takes a couple of minutes.

Instructions

1. Power-on the notebook. As soon as you see the initial boot screen or Asus logo, press the "F2" key. (Note - On older Asus notebooks, you may need to press the "Delete" key.)

2. Wait for the BIOS setup screen to appear. If prompted to enter a BIOS password, input the password and press the "Enter" key.

3. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate to the "Standard Configuration Settings" tab. Press the "Enter" key.

4. Navigate to the "Time and Date" settings on the screen. Use the "+" and "-" keys to set the current date and time.

5. Use the arrow keys to move to the "IDE Primary Master" field and press the "Enter" key. Do the same for the "IDE Primary Slave" field. The BIOS will update your hard drive and optical drive settings. (Note - Newer Asus notebooks may have "SATA" instead of "IDE" in the fields because they use newer types of hard drives and optical drives.)

6. Press the "ESC" key to return to the main BIOS setup screen.

7. Press the "F7"key to load optimized default settings for the ASUS laptop.

8. Press the "F10" key to save the BIOS settings and exit the setup utility. When asked to confirm the settings, press the "Enter" key. The computer will restart and boot into the operating system.

Tags: arrow keys, ASUS laptop, Asus notebooks, BIOS settings, BIOS setup, BIOS setup screen

Overclock The Q6600 On A Gigabyte Gaex38dq6

Overclock the Intel Q6600 processor to gain increased PC speeds.

The Intel Q6600 series of quad core processors are designed for desktop PCs. Computer processors, like the Intel Q6600, influence the speed of the PC to which they are connected. In order to overclock the Q6600, you will need to change the BIOS settings for the Intel GA-EX38-DQ6 motherboard and the CPU's multiplier setting. Overclocking devices like the Q6600 CPU and GA-EX38-DQ6 motherboard can cause systems to overheat, which can damage other components of the PC.

Instructions

1. Boot the desktop computer. Hold the setup menu key during boot, usually the "F11" key, to enter the boot menu.

2. Navigate to the "BIOS" entry found in the boot menu and press "Enter." Locate "External Bus" and hit the "Enter" key. Find "Front Bus Speed" or "Front Side Bus" and hit the "Enter" key. Choose an entry above the default selected value and press "Enter." This speeds up the GA-EX38-DQ6 motherboard's front bus, allowing for faster processor speeds.

3. Locate "CPU Core" and hit the "Enter" key. Find "Multiplier" and hit the "Enter" key. Raise the value by one and hit "Enter." This increases the Q6600 processor's frequency multiplier.

4. Press "Esc" to move to the main boot menu. Press "Save and Exit" to finish booting the PC.

Tags: boot menu, GA-EX38-DQ6 motherboard, Intel Q6600, Enter Find, Enter This, press Enter

What Parts Do I Need For An Htpc

Your HTPC needs an optical drive to play DVDs and Blu-Rays.

At the end of the day, a home theater PC is just a PC. Like any computer, it has a motherboard, CPU, drive, audio and video output and is housed in a case. It is also unusual, though, in that it typically ends up in a living area where noisy and ugly boxes do not usually fit.

Case

Most HTPC cases are shaped to look like a home-entertainment component. They typically have metallic finishes and are much smaller than a regular PC case. Many HTPC cases, such as those from Antec and Silverstone, are designed to fit small MicroATX motherboards. Cases made by Shuttle are frequently boxier, almost like a Nintendo Game Cube, and typically include their own proprietary motherboard design. Many cases are also designed for quieter computing with smaller power supplies and larger fans that turn more slowly.

Processor

Most HTPCs do not need an extremely fast processor. To reduce the amount of heat the computer generates and the amount of noisy cooling fans it requires, using a slower processor that runs at a cooler temperature, or even a processor aimed at mobile computing, can be a good match for a HTPC.

Drives

A HTPC should have an optical drive to play Blu-ray or DVD discs. Its hard drive should be a "green" drive which, although a bit slower than regular drives, should also run quieter and cooler than a higher performance drive. If the HTPC is going to be connected to a media server and will not need its own storage, other than for applications, a solid state drive is the best choice because it has no moving parts and is silent and generates little or no heat.

Audio and Video

A HTPC needs to be able to provide audio and video signals which match home theater equipment, as opposed to monitors and computer speakers. To do this, it will need a video card which can output HDTV resolutions of either 720p or 1080p, depending on the format of the home theater's display. The card should also have an HDMI connection. If the computer's audio system cannot output a digital surround sound signal over either a digital coaxial or TOSlink optical connection, the computer will need either a replacement internal sound card, or an external sound card connected over USB to be able to connect to a home theater receiver.

Tags: home theater, will need, audio video, connection computer, drive play, HTPC cases, HTPC needs

A List Of Parts Needed To Build A Gaming Pc

Many PC games demand robust components.

Building a new gaming PC can be a fun experience. By doing it yourself, you have free reign to choose exactly the components you want for your new computer. Planning your build ahead of time helps ensure not only that you have not forgotten a critical element, but also that your components will all work well together.

Operating System

Your choice of operating system is important, because it can limit what hardware you can use. A 64-bit Windows operating system offers the best security features and it will allow you to utilize more RAM in your gaming PC than a 32-bit OS.

CPU

While most games will run fine on a dual-core central processing unit, processors with four or more cores are affordable enough for most builders and offer your build some extra longevity. Intel's Core i5 and higher series of quad cores are a good choice for a gaming rig as of 2011, and AMD's Phenom series offers six cores for a similar price.

Motherboard and Sound

While installing a dedicated sound card will give you a slight performance boost, the on-board sound chipsets on most motherboards are sufficient for gaming purposes and will not tax a multi-core system very much. Look for a chipset that provides at least eight channels for the best surround effects.

Memory

When it comes to gaming, more RAM is always better, and choosing a 64-bit build will let you use more than 4 GB. Installing at least 8 GB should provide more than enough power for your gaming needs.

Graphics

The right video card can make or break a gaming system. AMD and Nvidia both produce quality graphic chipsets, and cards based on their designs are available from many manufacturers. As a basic rule of thumb, cards in the $175 to $250 range are usually a good mix of value and performance, and will last a year or two before becoming obsolete. The more video RAM a card has, the better it will handle high resolution gaming and visual effects. Certain motherboards offer the ability to install two video cards for extra power, but a single quality card should suffice in most circumstances.

Monitor

When shopping for a monitor, look for a low response time, under 5 milliseconds. This will minimize graphic artifacts in demanding gaming situations. Widescreen 25-inch and larger LCDs give an excellent field of view for modern games.

Drives

If you have enough room in your budget, a solid-state drive will really boost your system's speed. SSDs are limited in size, however, so your best bet is an SSD as your system and games drive and a larger SATA drive for file storage.

Power Supply

All these high-end components require a lot of power to function. If you are installing a single video card, a 500-watt power supply should be sufficient for your needs, but you might want to opt for a more powerful unit if you choose a dual-card setup.

Case and Cooling

Powerful computer and graphic processors produce a lot of heat. While your CPU and GPU will both have their own fans, choosing a case with good airflow and a few exhaust fans can help keep everything running cool even under load.

Peripherals

Input devices are largely up to personal choice, but you should look for a balance between precision and performance and ergonomic comfort. A hyper-accurate gaming mouse will do you no good if it causes wrist pain and numbness after a few minutes of use.

Tags: video card, more than, your build, your gaming, your system

Biostar Ta890fxe Bios Problems

Because the BIOS configuration options in a motherboard such as the Biostar TA890FXE are flexible, it is possible to select an option that causes your computer to stop booting. When this happens, you may see an error message or hear a series of beeps, but several actions can help you recover the system.

Unable to Start

If the TA890FXE can't boot up, the BIOS causes the computer's internal speaker to emit a series of beeps to help you determine the source of the problem. The instruction manual reveals match the number of beeps with the error's cause. Some causes for BIOS beep codes on the TA890FXE include incompatible or improperly installed memory, a keyboard failure and an improperly installed video card.

Self Recovery System

The TA890FXE maintains a backup of its last known good BIOS settings and can restore those settings automatically in the event that a configuration change prevents the computer from booting properly. If you attempt to overclock the computer and select a timing setting that's too aggressive, the Self Recovery System restores the computer to its previous configuration.

Reset Jumper

If you make a change in the BIOS configuration of the TA890FXE and the Self Recovery System is unable to resolve the issue, you can clear all of your settings with the reset jumper located next to the coin-cell battery. After shutting the computer down, you must remove the power cable from the back of the computer and move the jumper so it bridges the two pins closest to the coin-cell battery. After waiting several seconds, you can move the jumper to its original position and turn on the computer again.

BIOS Updates

Biostar has released several updates for the TA890FXE BIOS that improve RAID support, add support for 3TB hard drives, boost hard drive speed and overclocking features, and improve the motherboard's ability to boot from a network. You can download BIOS updates for the TA890FXE from the Biostar website and install them using the update utility included with the motherboard.

Tags: Recovery System, Self Recovery, Self Recovery System, battery After, BIOS configuration, coin-cell battery

Choosing The Best Cpu For Your Gaming Computer

Child playing video games.

PC games rely on high-end graphics and tend to be resource hogs. As you shop for the right CPU, or central processing unit, for your gaming needs, it's important that you realize what type of CPUs will provide the power you need to control your gaming experience and why those processors' capabilities should be considered above all others. From multi-core CPUs to multithreaded CPUs with high thermal design power, various considerations should be taken into account.

CPU Cores And Processor Speeds

The number of cores found on your CPU will help determine how many processes your computer can complete simultaneously. For example a dual-core processor will be slower than a quad-core option. Intel offers a line of processors that are well-suited for gaming, including the i3, i5 and i7 processors. Since your PC's graphics processing unit, or GPU, will handle each game's graphics, a dual-core processor is often enough for a basic gamer's needs, while a quad-core is recommended for heavy gaming and online play. At least a 2GHz processor speed is also recommended for gaming, although faster speeds will yield better results. Simply put, the processor speed is the rate at which a CPU can process requests sent from hardware and software, both important factors for heavy games.

Thermal Design Power

More commonly referred to as TDP, thermal design power is a way of expressing the hottest temperature a CPU can reach and maintain without causing degradation to its function. The hotter a CPU can become while maintaining maximum effectiveness, the more information it can process and therefore the faster it can run at higher capacities. TDP is expressed as an amount of power the unit can handle and still maintain its heat protection.

A processor that is pushed to draw more power than its TDP rating will slow down to compensate and may fail altogether, so it is important to give your system enough TDP capacity to handle the high power demands of gaming. The rating numbers are rough indications of capacity, but it's safe to say that a processor with a TDP rating of 100 W has a much higher capacity than one rated at 10 W, while processors from different manufacturers that are rated at, say, 100 W and 90 W will likely have comparable capacities.

Multi-Threaded Cores

Intel offers a technology that allows each processing core to handle more than one task, or thread, at a time, which takes full advantage of the processors' power while reducing the amount of time various tasks wait in line for attention. This, in turn, allows for smoother game processing. Using Turbo Boost technology, Intel CPUs are also able to increase the "clock frequency," or working speed, of a processing system by putting idle capacity to work. This boosts the productivity of the cores in use, an important aspect for gaming systems.

Dedicated Memory Supply

Cache memory is used to access recently used data upon request from the CPU's cores. The more cache available, the faster a CPU can recall information, an important attribute when gaming. L2 and L3 cache types are typically suggested and cache options can run up to 8MB in size.

Front Side Bus Speeds

The Front Side Bus is the speed at which the CPU can communicate with external devices and the actual processor. The higher the frequency of the FSB, the higher the overall performance of the CPU. An FSB of 1066Mh/z or higher is recommended for gaming.

Tags: dual-core processor, Front Side, Intel offers, processing unit, processor speed, recommended gaming, thermal design

Disconnect Speakers On A Motherboard

A typical computer motherboard

Internal speakers allow computers to relay audio warnings without the added complexity or cost of high-quality external speakers. Some computers have speakers installed directly on the motherboard, while others rely on small speakers connected to the case. Disconnecting internal speakers requires disassembly of the computer case for direct access to the motherboard.

Instructions

Disassemble

1. Shut down and unplug the computer.

2. Loosen the screws on the outside of the computer case.

3. Remove the computer case, being careful to disconnect any wires connecting components such as fans that may be attached to both the case and the internal components.

Disconnect

4. Locate the motherboard. This is a very large circuit board, usually aligned with the largest flat surface on the inside of the computer.

5. Locate the speaker. If it is not connected to the motherboard, it will usually be attached to an unremovable section of the computer case, such as the front near the power button. If the speaker is on-board, it will usually be small, black and round. In either case, it should be labeled "speaker."

6. Disconnect the speaker wires. Most internal speakers are connected to the motherboard by a red and a black wire. The power connector is usually a four-pin connector. Grab the connector with the pliers and pull firmly but carefully straight up from the motherboard.

Tags: computer case, connected motherboard, internal speakers, speakers connected, will usually

Overclock A Laptop Processor

Increase your CPU's clock speed to make your laptop faster.

The speed with which the CPU (Central Processing Unit) of a laptop performs basic functions, such as booting up and loading software programs, is governed by the processor's clock speed. A CPU's clock speed refers to the number of cycles per second, or hertz (Hz) that the computer can complete. Increasing the clock speed of a computer is a process called "overclocking." You can overclock the laptop processor by accessing the computer's BIOS (Basic Input Output System) menu.

Instructions

1. Reboot your laptop and watch the screen as it starts to boot back up. A line of text will flash briefly on the screen, directing you to press a certain key to enter "Setup." The key is usually an "F" key, such as "F3." In some cases, instead of a line of text, the entire screen with flash briefly. If this happens, press the "Escape" or "Esc" key.

2. Select the "CPU Frequency" menu item to enter the page that displays your laptop's clock speed.

3. Increase the clock speed by a small increment and save changes by clicking "Accept."

4. Reboot your computer and test for normal function. If all of your software loads and runs correctly, repeat the above process until the laptop stops running correctly, or until there are errors during startup. When you begin to see errors, reduce the clock speed to the last level that improved the speed of your laptop without negatively affecting its performance.

Tags: clock speed, your laptop, flash briefly, line text, Reboot your

Overlock A Quad Core Q8400

The Q8400 is an Intel processor that uses socket 775 and operates at 2.66GHz. A processor can be overclocked by modifying options in the Basic Input Output system, or BIOS. Overclocking is when the processor is made to run at a higher speed than the manufacturer's specification. Depending on the specific Q8400 you own and the motherboard on your computer, your overclocking capability will vary.

Instructions

1. Turn you computer on and press "F2," "Esc" or "F8" to enter the BIOS, depending on your motherboard manufacturer. When your computer boots up, you will see a message that tells you what key to use to enter the setup options.

2. Use your arrow keys to navigate to the "Advanced Chipset Features" and press "Enter."

3. Go down to the "FSB & Memory Config" and press "Enter."

4. Go down to "FSB -- Memory Clock Mode," press "Enter," select "Unlinked" and press "Enter."

5. Go down to "FSB (QDR, MHz)", press "Enter" and change the value to 1600. Press "Enter" and press "Esc." Select "Save and Exit" and press "Enter" to restart your computer.

6. After Windows loads, launch the most resource-intensive software you have -- (a game or video/photo editor, for example. Play or work in that software for one or two hours to make sure the system is stable. If it is, reboot your computer and follow steps 1 to 5 and raise the FSB by 50.

7. Repeat this process until the computer crashes. When it does, repeat steps 1 to 5 and change the FSB value to the last stable value.

Tags: press Enter, your computer, Enter down, press Enter down, change value, down Memory, Enter down Memory

Fastest Pentium 4 Processors

The Intel Pentium 4 is the fourth iteration of the Intel Pentium, which was once the flagship brand of PC processors, or central processing units, of semiconductor company Intel Corp. It was produced from 2000 to 2008. How fast a Pentium 4 chip operates is determined by the clock speed. Also known as the processing speed, it is the measurement of the rate at which it performs its basic functions.

Overall

Three Intel Pentium processors share the same maximum 3.8-GHz speed that the family of CPUs offers. They are the Intel Pentium 4 3.8, Intel Pentium 4 571 and Intel Pentium 4 570J. Each one of these processors has Hyper-Threading Technology (HT), which Intel introduced to make some of its computer chips better multitaskers. Also included with these computers are a 800-MHz front-side bus (or data transfer) speed and a 1-MB cache for high-speed access to the PC's most frequently used data.

Desktop vs. Mobile Processors

The desktop processors of the Pentium 4 family are generally faster than the mobile processors, which are chips that go on laptop PCs. The aforementioned fastest Pentium 4 chips --- the 3.8-GHz the Intel Pentium 4 3.8, Intel Pentium 4 571 and Intel Pentium 4 570J --- are all desktop CPUs. The fastest mobile chip is the Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor 552 HT, with a 3.46-GHz clock speed, which falls short of the fastest desktop types.

Extreme Edition vs. Regular Processors

In 2003, Intel Corp. began manufacturing a subcategory of the Pentium 4 dubbed the Extreme Edition. They were designed to be generally better performers than the regular chips. In fact, the slowest Extreme Edition chip has a clock speed of 3.2GHz, which still puts it on the higher end. (the slowest Pentium 4 clock speed is 1.4GHz.) However, the fastest Extreme Edition, with a processor speed of 3.73GHz, slightly lower than the family's peak of 3.8GHz.

HT vs Non-HT

Several Pentium 4 CPUs have HT, which include the three fastest chips. The fastest non-HT chips are the Intel Pentium 4 519K and 519J, with a processing speed of 3.06GHz. As desktop processors, they are slower than even the fastest mobile processor.

Tags: Intel Pentium, clock speed, Extreme Edition, Intel Pentium Intel, Pentium Intel

Make A Motherboard Smaller

Cutting a motherboard can become tricky.

A motherboard, essentially a large PCB board, is manufactured of a very hard fiber resin material. It can be very difficult to cut. If you break the shell on a piece of equipment and you decide to place the motherboard into a different sized casing you may need to cut down the size of a motherboard to fit it inside the casing. If this is the case, you have a couple of options to try.

Instructions

Straight Line Cut

1. Draw a straight line onto the motherboard with a marker and a ruler.

2. Inspect the copper contacts on the bottom of the PCB board to ensure you will not cut into the copper contacts. If your line runs over any copper contacts, you must move the line.

3. Place the ruler back over the line you drew and hold it in place with one hand.

4. Score a line into the motherboard with a very sharp utility knife. Be careful; do not cut the hand holding the ruler. Run the line along the ruler several times until you cut through approximately 25 percent of the PCB board. Grip the motherboard on both sides of the scored line and then break the excess portion of the board off.

Curved Cuts

5. Draw the outline of the area you need to remove from the motherboard with a marker.

6. Inspect the bottom of the motherboard to ensure your line does not run over any copper surface. If it does, you must move the line.

7. Position the motherboard flat onto the surface of your band saw table and then turn on the band saw.

8. Cut along the outline you drew onto the motherboard with the band saw blade. Cut slowly and grip the motherboard firmly to ensure the blade does not rip the PCB board out of your hands.

Tags: motherboard with, copper contacts, motherboard with marker, move line, must move

Overclock An Intel Pentium M Processor 2 Ghz

The Intel Pentium M Processor acts as a computer's brain, processing all the data and performing all the calculations the computer needs to operate. The speed of a processor influences the speed of the computer housing the device. Overclock a CPU to increase speed and pass the limits imposed by the factory. Overclock an Intel Pentium M Processor by changing both the multiplier frequency and front bus speed of the device through the PC's boot menu.

Instructions

1. Boot the Intel Pentium M Processor containing PC. Press "F11" or "F8," depending on the PC, to enter the boot menu. Move the cursor to and enter the "BIOS Features Setup" option.

2. Choose "External Bus," select the value in the "Front Bus Speed" field, and change it to the next highest number. This speeds up the Intel Pentium M Processor's front bus.

3. Choose "CPU Core," select the value in the "Multiplier" field, and change it to the next highest number. This increases the Intel Pentium M Processor's front bus frequency.

4. Choose "Save and Exit" from the main boot menu. The Intel Pentium M Processor is overclocked after the boot process finishes.

Tags: Intel Pentium, Intel Pentium Processor, Pentium Processor, boot menu, change next, change next highest, field change

Gigabyte Series 6100 Specifications

The Gigabyte S-series is a range of motherboards, released in 2007, featuring the GeForce 6100 chipset. This motherboard, produced in Taiwan, is a Micro ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) form factor board, which means that it is a desktop board for smaller PCs. It's designed for use in systems with mid-range performance.

Processor Socket

The board has a single AM2 socket type, which can support Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64, Sempron and Athlon 64 X2 processors. The FSB (front side bus) speed, which determines the data-transfer rate, is 1GHz.

Memory

The board has dual-channel memory support for up to 16GB of RAM in four DIMM slots with DDR2 RAM compatibility. However, no RAM is included with the motherboard as standard. The supported RAM speeds are 400 MHz, 533 MHz, 667 MHz and 800 MHz.

Graphics and Audio

The board's NVIDIA GeForce 6100 chipset provides integrated video and audio, allowing for graphics and audio processing without expansion cards. There is no AGP port for adding a dedicated graphics card.

Additional

The board uses Award BIOS and has four PCI slots for expansion cards. Interface ports include four USB 2.0 ports, four SATA interfaces, one FDD port and one IDE port.

Dimensions

The board measures 12 inches in width and 8.4 inches in depth.

Tags: 6100 chipset, expansion cards, GeForce 6100, GeForce 6100 chipset

Reset Cmos On An Asus & Remove The Battery

Replace your CMOS battery to reset the BIOS password.

The CMOS battery on your ASUS motherboard controls all of the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) processes when the computer is turned off. If you are locked out of your computer's BIOS menu because you've forgotten your password, you can reset the password by replacing the battery. When you disconnect the CMOS battery from the ASUS motherboard, all of the presets on the computer, including the password, will reset.

Instructions

1. Unplug all of the electrical cords from the computer so it will not turn on while you are working on it.

2. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws on the back of the computer to open the computer's tower.

3. Locate the CMOS battery. The CMOS battery is going to look like a watch battery. It will be small, round and silver. Consult your ASUS motherboard's manual for the exact placement, but you should be able to eyeball it.

4. Press the release lever on the side of the battery to remove it. Replace the battery with your new one.

5. Replace the tower door and the screws holding it onto the computer casing. Plug the computer back in and turn it on.

6. Watch the computer screen and follow the prompts to enter the BIOS menu.

Tags: CMOS battery, ASUS motherboard, BIOS menu, your ASUS, your ASUS motherboard

Desolder A Capacitor Motherboard

Replace your capacitor to get your motherboard running again.

Your computer has a motherboard that directs electricity to different parts of the computer. These parts could be the printer, the hard drive, or the keyboard. If the capacitors on your motherboard aren't working properly, the electrical current could fry your entire system. If you notice that a capacitor on your motherboard has gone bad, you need to desolder it from the board to ensure that your system does not have incorrect current flow.

Instructions

1. Unplug the electrical supply to your computer. Use a screwdriver to gain access inside the computer tower.

2. Unplug the components (hard drive, CD-Rom) from the motherboard.

3. Use the screwdriver to unscrew the screws holding the motherboard in place inside the computer tower, and pull the motherboard out.

4. Plug your soldering iron into an outlet to heat up.

5. Turn the motherboard over and find the silver-colored solder on the underside of the capacitor. Place the soldering iron on the solder to heat it up.

6. Pull the capacitor out of the solder once it has heated. Use a vacuum pump or a solder wick to remove the solder from the motherboard if needed.

Tags: your motherboard, capacitor your, capacitor your motherboard, computer tower, from motherboard, hard drive

Replace An Acer 5610 Laptop Cmos Battery

The CMOS battery is the power source that feeds your computer's essential process while the computer is turned off; it's the reason why your computer knows exactly what day and time it is even when it has been off for a while. On most computers, it also powers the BIOS memory, which is essential to system boot-up. Therefore, a dead CMOS battery can render a typical computer inoperable until it is fixed. Acer laptops, including the Acer 5610 work differently, and you can still use them when there are problems with the CMOS battery. But if you want to restore your system to full functionality, you can replace it yourself with little trouble.

Instructions

1. Buy a replacement CMOS battery specifically designated as a match for an Acer 5610 laptop. You can do this online from almost any business selling replacement computer parts or you can visit a computer store in your area and ask for assistance from a salesperson.

2. Turn off the laptop and remove the primary battery. Hit the power button once to discharge any stored power.

3. Lay the laptop upside down on a flat, hard surface. Use a small Phillips head screwdriver to remove the eight small screws in the bottom panel. Set the screws aside somewhere safe. They are easy to lose, and you'll need them later.

4. Remove the bottom panel of the laptop then turn it right-side up. Open the lid and remove the top panel and keyboard.

5. Locate the CMOS battery. It is plugged into the motherboard in an area near where the F1 to F12 keys are on the keyboard. The battery itself is flat, round and connected to the motherboard with a thin braided cord.

6. Carefully unplug the jack on the end of the CMOS battery cord from the motherboard. Set the old battery aside.

7. Put the new battery in the old battery's place and plug the end of its cord into the motherboard.

8. Replace the keyboard and top panel of the laptop. Make sure everything is aligned properly and snugly in place, then close the laptop's lid.

9. Flip the laptop over onto its lid and put the bottom panel back in place. Carefully replace all eight screws until they're all tight. Your CMOS battery has now been replaced successfully.

Tags: CMOS battery, Acer 5610, bottom panel, CMOS battery, battery power, into motherboard

Emachine W3115 Specs

The W3115 is a desktop computer manufactured by eMachines. Released in 2006, the eMachines W3115 is a multi-media computer designed for users on a strict budget. As a budget PC, eMachines tried to find a balance between performance and price, meaning you wont get some of the advanced features you would on a more expensive system. Reviewing the eMachines W3115's technical specifications will give you a clear indication of the computer's physical attributes and computing power.

Processor and Memory

This eMachines desktop uses a 1.8GHz AMD Semperon 3100+ processor. With a 1,600MHz system bus and a 256KB L2 cache, the processor uses the NVIDIA GeForce 6100 chipset. The computer uses 400MHz PC-3200 double-data rate memory and comes with 512MB pre-installed. The memory can be upgraded to a maximum of 2GB.

Display and Audio

The eMachines W3115 desktop comes with a 17-inch, flat-screen, cathode ray tube monitor. The system features an NVIDIA GeForce 6100 graphics processor capable of using up to 128MB of shared video memory, which is memory borrowed from the computer's RAM to improve graphics quality. The computer features PCI Express x16 slot to further improve graphics with a PCI-E graphics card. The desktop includes six-channel, 5.1 AC'97 audio and includes external stereo speakers.

Drives, Networking and Expansion

The eMachines W3115 has a 7,200-revolutions-per-minute, 120GB hard drive with a 2MB cache. The desktop comes with a 16x dual-layer DVD drive that is capable of reading and writing DVDs and CDs in multiple formats. The system features 10/100Mbps integrated Ethernet support for local area networking and a 56K ITU V.92-ready modem and fax port. The system includes a 9-in-1 media card reader that is capable of reading Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, CompactFlash, MicroDrive, SmartMedia, xD-Picture Card and USB 2.0 media and flash cards. The desktop comes with a standard QWERTY keyboard and a two-buttoned wheel mouse. The computer has four USB 2.0 slots on the back of the tower, an external VGA connection, a serial and parallel port, a mouse and a keyboad PS/2 connection and five audio ports for stereos, headphones and microphones.

Physical Specifications and Included Software

Weighing 22.5 lbs, the eMachines W3115 tower stands 14.25 inches high, 7.25 inches wide and 16 inches deep. The computer comes with the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system and features free trials for Microsoft Office 2003 Student Teacher Edition, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Napster 3.0 and Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition. The computer features full versions of Microsoft Works 8.2, Microsoft Money 2006, Microsoft Encarta Online, Adobe Acrobat Reader 7 and CyberLink's Power2Go and PowerDVD software.

Tags: comes with, eMachines W3115, desktop comes, desktop comes with, system features, capable reading

Amd Athlon Xp Vs Pentium 4

The Intel Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon XP are both processors you might choose if you are building a new computer under a strict budget or for someone who has no need for a computer that can perform complicated tasks. Learning the differences between these processors can help you choose the one that will be best for your new computer.

Specifications

The Athlon XP 3200+ is clocked at 2,200 MHz, has 512 KB of cache, and runs on a 400 MHz system bus, while the Pentium 4 HT 661 has a speed of 3,600 MHz, a 2 MB cache, and a bus speed of 800 MHz. Additionally, the Pentium supports a proprietary Intel technology called hyper-threading, which allows the operating system to see one processor as two and improves the speed of some applications.

Price

Neither the Athlon 3200+ nor the Pentium 4 HT 661 is still being produced, so it will be necessary to buy whichever processor you prefer on the secondary market. As of the latter half of 2009, the Athlon can be purchased for approximately $70, while the Pentium costs about $90. Shop around for the lowest price; you may be able to reduce your cost significantly by buying a used unit.

Compatibility

Select the correct motherboard for your processor by examining its specifications carefully. The Pentium 4 HT 661 requires a motherboard with an LGA775 socket, while the Athlon requires a Socket A (also known as Socket 462) motherboard. Check the motherboard manufacturer's website to confirm that the processor you intend to purchase will be supported.

Heat and Noise

If you are concerned about the heat and noise produced by a computer, be aware that the Athlon XP 3200+ and Pentium 4 HT 661 differ slightly in this area. The CPU cooler paired with the Athlon must be able to dissipate 76.8 W of heat, while the cooler used for the Pentium 4 must dissipate 86 W. This means that the Pentium 4 may run as much as 11.9 percent hotter when operating under full load. The more powerful a CPU cooler is, the louder it generally is. Choose the Athlon for a processor that is likely to create less heat and noise.

Performance

Comparing the Athlon XP 3200+ and Pentium 4 HT 661, the processors provide similar performance in many productivity and general use applications. Benchmarks in Microsoft Word and iTunes show that the processors perform similarly. However, the Pentium 4 easily surpasses the Athlon in games, giving a performance boost of 11 percent in "Serious Sam 2," and a massive 32 percent increase in "Call of Duty 2." For gaming, the Pentium 4 HT 661 is clearly superior to the Athlon XP 3200+.

Tags: Athlon 3200, 3200 Pentium, Athlon 3200 Pentium, while Pentium

Connect To My Computer Remotely

Connect to My Computer Remotely

The ability to connect to your computer remotely can be extremely useful. Whether you left a file you need on your office computer, or you need to log onto your home computer while on vacation, you will find that connecting to your computer remotely will help you get more done.

Instructions

1. Right-click on "My Computer" and choose "Properties" from the menu. Click on the "Remote" tab. For Vista computers, right-click on the "Computer" icon, choose "Properties" and click on the "Remote Settings" link.

2. Check the "Allow others to connect remotely to my PC" check box. This will allow you to connect remotely from your computer. For Vista, click the "Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop" option.

3. Click on the "Computer Name" tab and record the name of your computer. Then click on "Start," choose "Run" from the menu and type "CMD" in the box. Click "OK."

4. Type "IPCONFIG" at the prompt and record the IP address of your computer. This will be a four-part number, with each number separated by a period, i.e. 20.79.15.234.

5. Log onto the internet from another computer, click on the "Start" button and choose "Run" from the menu. Type "MSTSC" in the box and click "OK."

6. Type the name of your computer into the box and click "OK." If you cannot connect using the computer name, type the IP address you recorded in the previous steps.

Tags: your computer, from menu, choose from, choose from menu, choose Properties, click Start, Connect Computer

Know What Kind Of Ram A Computer Takes

Many RAM chips come with markings to indicate their type, speed and capacity.

The type of RAM a particular computer takes is dependent entirely on the motherboard. By inspecting the existing RAM and determining its type, if possible, the case is solved. Alternatively, the motherboard manufacturer will list the supported types and capacities of RAM in the user manual and on the company's website. Several vendors offer cross references to new RAM by computer make and model, and some automatic RAM scanning tools are even available.

Instructions

Inspect the Existing RAM

1. Power off the computer and open the case.

2. Connect one end of the anti-static wrist strap to your left or right wrist and clip the other end to the frame of the case.

3. Press outward on the plastic retention clips holding one of the RAM modules in place and press them downward until the module raises slightly in the socket. Pull the RAM straight up and out of the socket and inspect it for any markings or a label that indicates the type of RAM it is.

4. Replace the RAM module by sliding it back into the socket as indicated by the small notch and plastic tab that mate up when the module is inserted in the proper direction. Press firmly on each end until the module clips down fully into the socket and the retention clips snap into place on both ends.

Refer to Motherboard Information

5. Refer to the motherboard user manual that came with the computer and look for the section that explains which kind of RAM is supported on the motherboard and in what capacities and combinations.

6. Locate the brand and model number of the motherboard from markings on the board, which are visible when the case cover is removed and a flashlight is shined inside.

7. Log onto the Internet and browse the motherboard or computer manufacturer's website for details as to what kind of RAM is supported by the computer.

8. Call technical support for the computer and ask what kind of RAM the system takes.

BIOS System Setup Information

9. Restart the computer.

10. Press the required key to enter the system setup (BIOS) program when the system first boots and prior to the operating system logo appearing on the screen. The key is often displayed on the screen in the form of the message "Press (key) to enter setup" or something similar. Typical keys used are "Delete," "F1," "F2" and "F10." If the system does not enter setup, allow it to boot to the operating system and shut it down to try again.

11. Review the information on the main BIOS setup screen to see if the type of RAM is indicated there. Navigate to other screens using the keyboard arrows and "Enter" key to look for the type and amount of RAM installed. Typical locations include "System Information" and "General" categories.

Memory Vendor Websites

12. Launch a browser window and connect to a memory vendor website.

13. Enter the brand and model information into the interactive display to search for available memory upgrades for the computer.

14. Click the button for the automatic memory scanning tool if desired and follow the steps to install and run the utility to determine the type of RAM installed and the available upgrade options.

Tags: brand model, enter setup, into socket, kind supported, operating system, retention clips, until module

Overclock A Gigabyte Geforce 7600 Gs 512

The Nvidia GeForce 7600 GS was released in 2006. Compared to similar models released several years later, the 7600 GS lacks power. For example, the 7600 GS had a max processor speed of 560 Mhz, whereas Nvidia's 2010 model GeForce GTX 480 has a maximum processor speed of 700 Mhz. A side-by-side comparison shows that the GeForce 7600 GS may lack some of the capability of later processors. For this reason it may be desirable to overclock the graphics card, a process in which the user forces the graphics card to perform at a higher speed than it would under normal operations.

Instructions

1. Download Riva Tools from the link in the resources section. Open the installation file and follow the on-screen prompts to install Riva Tools on your computer.

2. Open Riva Tools and select "system settings." Locate this option by clicking on an arrow under "driver settings" and selecting system settings from the menu that appears.

3. A dialog box will open that contains a set of slider bars that allow the user to adjust three settings: shader frequency, core frequency, and memory clock. The shader and core frequencies are both adjustments of the graphics processor.

4. Begin overclocking the graphics card by moving up the sliders under the core and shader frequency options. This will increase the speed of the processor. For users without advanced knowledge of the processor operation of Nvidia cards, it is best to keep these frequencies close to equal.

5. Test the new settings by opening a graphics-intensive program. There are two indications the graphics card has been overclocked beyond its capacity: a graphics intensive program crashes, or the graphics on such a program are unable to render properly. If the new settings do not cause a crash or poor graphics, it may be possible to overclock the processor more by increasing the settings further. When a graphics-intensive program fails the test, gradually decrease the settings until you find the appropriate maximum overclock setting.

6. Repeat these same steps with the "memory clock" slider. Move the slider up and test. The testing procedure is the same: open a graphics intensive program and pay attention for crashes or poorly-rendered graphics. There is more leeway with the memory overclock settings.

Tags: graphics card, Riva Tools, GeForce 7600, graphics intensive, graphics intensive program, graphics-intensive program, intensive program

Overclock An Msi Motherboard

Overclock an MSI Motherboard

Overclocking forces the computer hardware -- primarily the processor, or CPU -- to run faster than the manufacturer's recommended values. The CPU speed is directly proportional to the Front Side Bus (FSB) frequency expressed in megahertz. The CPU connects with the motherboard chipset using the front side bus. Increasing the FSB frequency represents the common way to overclock your computer. On MSI motherboards, the system setup, or BIOS, has a special "Cell" menu designated for overclocking.

Instructions

1. Press the keys "Ctrl" + "Alt" + "Del" or choose "Restart" from the Windows Start menu to restart your computer.

2. Press the "Del" key as soon as you see the message "Press key to enter Setup" on the computer display to enter BIOS.

3. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to get to "Cell menu" in BIOS.

4. Read the current CPU speed and the FSB frequency given in megahertz in the fields "Current CPU Clock" and the "Adjust CPU FSB Frequency."

5. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the "Adjust FSB Frequency" menu and press "Enter."

6. Enter a new value for the FSB frequency that is higher than the current one and press "Enter" to overclock your system. For example, if the default FSB frequency is 333, then you might enter 400.

7. Press the key "F10" to save the new BIOS settings.

Tags: Adjust Frequency, arrow keys, Cell menu, Overclock Motherboard, overclock your, press Enter

Gigabyte Bios Problems

Without the basic input/output system, a GIGABYTE motherboard is about as useful as a paperweight. The BIOS confirms at startup that essential hardware devices are functional; initializes these devices and configures their settings; is responsible for initiating the boot process; and after all is said and done, enables the OS to talk to the driver programs that send task instructions to connected hardware. Addressing BIOS-related problems is required to restore a GIGABYTE motherboard to working order.

Basics

On the GIGABYTE motherboard is a flash, or read-only, memory chip that contains the BIOS software. A flash ROM is a non-volatile storage device, meaning that even if the computer is powered off, the device won't lose the data stored to it. The BIOS is coupled with a sister component, called the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. The CMOS sometimes resides on the same chip as the BIOS, and retains the hardware parameters configured in the BIOS.

Configuration

The GIGABYTE motherboard features a setup program, called the BIOS Setup Utility, that you can use to change the hardware settings. Some changes, however, can have negative affects on computer performance. For example, overclocking or overvolting the central processing unit, while it can sometimes improve performance, can also render the motherboard unstable. To revert the hardware to its default state, turn on the PC, then press "Del" on the boot screen to go to the BIOS Setup Utility. Look for the option Fail-Safe Defaults. Press the associated key to restore the original settings.

Battery

A lithium, coin-cell battery is used to configure the date and time settings in the BIOS. Batteries tend to last about a decade, so it's unusual for the component to cause motherboard errors, but in rare cases it can occur. If the battery fails, messages like BIOS Checksum Error or CMOS Checksum Error may appear on the screen after you turn on the PC. Although the computer should still function, you'll need to reenter the date and time whenever you turn on the PC. You can replace the battery with an identical model to resolve the problem.

Corrupt BIOS

GIGABYTE regularly provides updates to the BIOS. The BIOS is similar to an operating system in that initial versions sometimes contain bugs that cause errors to occur. Updating the BIOS isn't recommended because it can "brick," or damage, the motherboard if not done correctly. Nevertheless, if all other troubleshooting methods have failed to resolve your problem, upgrading the BIOS might be just the thing. Depending on your motherboard, you can use either Q-Flash or @BIOS to upgrade the BIOS software. Q-Flash is accessible from the BIOS Setup Utility, while @BIOS performs the upgrade from within the Windows OS. You can access @BIOS on the GIGABYTE website.

Tags: GIGABYTE motherboard, BIOS Setup, BIOS Setup Utility, Setup Utility, BIOS software

A Sata Hard Drive

With the older EIDE hard drive interface quickly becoming obsolete compared to the newer SATA specification, it is important for computer owners and builders to understand the process of adding a SATA hard drive. SATA hard drives use a smaller interface for data and power connectors while offering hot swapping capabilities. Installing a SATA hard drive is an easy computer hardware process that can be done by any computer user within a matter of minutes.

Instructions

Adding a SATA Hard Drive

1. Disconnect your computer from any electrical power sources.

2. Remove your computer's side access panel. This may require removing two thumbscrews on the rear face of the computer's case.

3. Locate a vacant hard drive bay and slide your SATA hard drive into it with the data and power interfaces facing the rear of the case. The drive bays are located at the front of the case beneath the optical drive.

4. Locate a free hard drive bay, and slide your SATA hard drive into it with the data and power connectors facing the rear of the computer case. The drive bays are located near the front face of the case below the optical drive.

5. Locate the two mounting holes on the side of the drive bay you inserted your SATA hard drive into and use your screwdriver to screw in the two mounting screws that came with your SATA hard drive. This mounting helps secure it in place and reduce operating noise.

6. Locate one SATA power connector coming from your computer's power supply, and connect it to the SATA power connector at the back of your drive. The power cable and connector on the drive are both labeled for easy identification.

7. Connect the SATA data cable that came with your hard drive to the second of the two connectors at the rear of your hard drive. Only one end of the SATA data cable will fit to the rear face of your hard drive.

8. Attach the opposite end of the SATA data cable to a free SATA port on your motherboard. Again, this connector will be labeled on your motherboard and is keyed to allow connections to take place in only one orientation.

9. Replace you computer's side access panel and re-establish any electrical connections severed previously.

10. Boot into your operating system and ensure the hard drive is recognized and indeed functional.

Tags: hard drive, SATA hard, hard drive, your SATA, your SATA hard, data cable, data power

Asus Pk5e Motherboard Specifications

The P5K-E is a motherboard built by ASUSTeK Computer Inc. The P5K-E motherboard uses ASUS's patented Memspeed Technology for enhanced memory speeds of up to 75 percent and is considered a high-performance motherboard.

Platform and Chip Set

The P5K-E supports Intel 45nm multicore computer processors, meaning it has the ability and micro-architecture to handle dual-core processes. The P5K-E uses the Intel LGA775 platform and supports Intel's Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Extreme, Core 2 Duo, Pentium Extreme, Pentium D and Pentium 4 chip sets.

Memory

The P5K-E supports dual-channel DDR2 800 memory with four memory slots that can hold up to 8 gigabytes. DDR2 was developed to replace the former standard in computer memory, DDR. DDR2 800 memory means that the P5K-E is capable of handling DDR2 memory with speeds of up to 800MHz.

Expansion and storage

The P5K-E motherboard includes a number of features for computer expansion and storage. The motherboard itself is equipped with two PCIe x 16 slots, two PCIe x1 slots and three standard PCI slots. The P5K-E also has six SATA ports, two external SATA ports and a single UltraDMA port for the connection of up to two PATA devices. The motherboard also allows for the installation of 10 USB ports.

Tags: DDR2 memory, P5K-E motherboard, DDR2 memory with, memory with, P5K-E supports, PCIe slots

Asus Motherboards & Network Failure

The technical name for an Ethernet jack is RJ-45.

Computers can connect to the Internet through a wired network or through a wireless network. Modern ASUS motherboards contain integrated components that enable the computer to detect these networks, but some older motherboards require additional parts to enable the PC to use the Internet. Although these components are central to the function of computer networking, both software and hardware issues can cause network failure.

Basics

An ASUS motherboard requires a network interface controller -- NIC -- also known as a network interface card or network adapter, to communicate with wired networks. NICs feature an Ethernet port that modems or routers connect to via an Ethernet cable. To connect to a wireless network, an ASUS motherboard requires a wireless NIC. As the name indicates, WNICs don't need to use an Ethernet cable to connect to a modem or router, although the latter devices must have wireless capabilities to communicate with the PC.

Network Settings

Often, the source of network failure is not hardware, but software. Certain settings can prevent the computer from seeing available networks. In Network and Sharing Center, accessible from the Control Panel or Start menu, is an option to disable network adapters. Disabling the NIC prevents the OS from connecting to wired networks, just as disabling the WNIC prevents the OS from connecting to wireless networks. If these adapters are disabled, the associated icons will be grayed out. To re-enable the adapter, right-click it, then click "Enable."

Driver Problems

Operating systems send instructions to the NIC and WNIC via device drivers. If the device drivers for these adapters aren't installed, are outdated or contain bugs, network performance may be affected. Device Manager, accessible from the Control Panel, lists the status of the device drivers installed to the operating system. The NIC and WNIC drivers are contained in the section called Network Adapters. Device Manager uses an "!" or "X" symbol to indicate a problem with a device. If either of these symbols appears next to the NIC or WNIC, double-click the device and check the Device Status field to find out what's preventing the adapter from working.

Defective Hardware

If the NIC and WNIC are installed to expansion slots on your ASUS motherboard, then the problem is much less serious. Replace the cards to restore network function to the computer. If the NIC and WNIC cards are integrated into the motherboard, however, and one or both cards stops working, the motherboard might be failing. Install new network adapters to the appropriate slots on the motherboard, then disable the on-board LAN and WLAN in the system setup program, accessible at startup.

Tags: ASUS motherboard, device drivers, accessible from, accessible from Control, ASUS motherboard requires

Add Storage To A Hp Mini 1010 Netbook With A Six Cell Battery

Netbooks are smaller than laptops and contain less storage typically.

The HP Mini 1010 Netbook, which is no longer available from HP, came with an Intel Atom processor, a built-in 8 GB solid-state flash drive, 2 USB ports, an 8.9-inch screen and Windows XP. Unfortunately, 8 GB of storage space is fairly limited by today's standards given the amount of media files many computer users have. Users may find that they want to increase the storage space of their HP Mini 1010 Netbook.

Instructions

1. Purchase an external hard drive. External hard drives can range from 80 GB or less to 1 TB and more. Generally, 250 to 500 GB of storage space is sufficient for basic home use, but if you are unsure what you will need, get a larger drive.

2. Insert any software or driver discs that came with your external hard drive. Follow the instructions for installing the software or drivers. If your external hard drive did not come with a disc, you can skip to step three.

3. Power down your HP Mini 1010 and plug the USB cable into both the external hard drive and your computer. Plug the external hard drive power cable into the external hard drive and a power source such as a wall socket if it has a separate power source; not all do.

4. Power up your computer and wait for it to fully boot.

5. Click "Start" in the lower left of your screen and select "My Computer" from the left-hand menu. If you have upgraded your HP Mini 1010 to Vista or Windows 7, the Start menu button will only have the Windows icon and the menu will say "Computer."

6. Locate your new external hard drive in the list of available and installed drives to ensure that it is being recognized by your operating system. If it is not, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.

Tags: external hard, external hard drive, hard drive, Mini 1010, 1010 Netbook, Mini 1010 Netbook

Install A Pci Graphics Card On An Agp Motherboard

Most owners of motherboards with AGP slots opt to install AGP video cards. These graphics cards provide the fastest performance possible without upgrading to a newer PCI Express motherboard, but you can also install a PCI graphics card if you have an AGP motherboard. The PCI standard is older and slower than AGP and PCI Express, but installing a PCI video card may be more cost effective if you don't need high performance graphics.

Instructions

1. Turn your computer off and unplug all cables from the unit. Remove the left side panel to access the motherboard. You may see a thumb screw you must twist off, set of screws you must remove with a Phillips screwdriver or a latch you must trigger on the back edge of the panel.

2. Attach an anti-static wrist strap to your arm to prevent static electricity inside your body from damaging your computer. Wrap the wristband end of the strap around your arm and clip the other end to a bare metal surface inside of your computer, such as the edge of the case or the hard drive cage.

3. Remove the metal bracket adjacent to an empty PCI slot. Look for these white slots below the AGP slot. Take out the screw holding the bracket down using a Phillips screwdriver and pull the metal tab away. This opens up the PCI slot for your graphics card.

4. Insert the graphics card into the empty PCI slot. Grip the edges of the card, align the copper connectors on the bottom of the card with the slits in the slot and push down. Make sure the video card is in all the way. You should barely be able to see the copper contacts on the bottom of the device.

5. Screw down the bracket on the left side of the card using a Phillips screwdriver and the same screw from earlier. This secures the graphics card to the case.

6. Replace the side cover and plug all cables back in Windows should work automatically with the new video card, but for best results download the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website.

Tags: graphics card, Phillips screwdriver, video card, your computer, empty slot, inside your

Reset Bios On Ms6741

Computer motherboards are complex.

The reasons you'd want to reset the BIOS on your MS-6741 motherboard range from a lost BIOS password to bad settings that are incompatible with your hardware and prevent you from booting the computer. Sometimes your BIOS becomes corrupted and you need to go back to the default settings and start over. To start with a fresh slate, you need to clear the CMOS memory of your motherboard and reset it to the factory defaults.

Instructions

1. Reset the BIOS within the Setup options. To get to the BIOS Setup, turn on your computer and press "Delete" while it is booting; you may have to press it repeatedly until the computer enters the BIOS Setup. Press "F7" to set it to the default values. When the window appears asking you to press "Enter" or "Escape," press "Enter." Press "F10" to save your changes and exit. It will automatically reboot your computer.

If this hasn't solved your problem or you can't get the BIOS to boot, try the physical reset.

2. Turn off the computer. If there is a switch on the power supply, turn that off as well. Wait 15 minutes for the capacitors in the motherboard to discharge. Remove your shoes and socks and put on a grounding strap wrist band attaching the wire to the bare metal on the case. Touch the case before touching the motherboard.

3. Open the computer; usually, this involves unscrewing or sliding one side of the computer case open. Look at the motherboard and orient yourself. Find the small switch with a jumper labeled JBAT1. Jumper switches are small trios of pins, about one quarter-inch wide, two of which will have a rectangular plastic jumper capping them. The JBAT1 switch on the MS-6741 is on the lower right-hand side of the motherboard if your I/O ports are on the upper left.

4. Note where the jumper is currently set over the pin labeled 1 and the middle pin. You will need to return it to this setting at the end.

5. Lift the plastic JBAT1 jumper straight up using the needle-nose pliers, removing it from the pins, and put it over the pin labeled 3 and the middle pin. Press it in place and release the pin from the pliers.

6. Restart your computer. Make sure you haven't left the pliers or any other foreign object inside the case before restarting.

7. Power down the computer, again waiting 15 minutes for the board to discharge. Reset the jumper on the JBAT1 switch to the pin marked 1 and the middle pin. Restart your computer.

8. Disconnect your wrist strap and close the case.

Tags: your computer, BIOS Setup, case before, JBAT1 switch, labeled middle, over labeled, over labeled middle