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NVIDIA Graphics Card Overclocking

by Molly Smith

In the P4 era, CPU performance often comes up to our expectation while the video card is complained much more in the process of actual operation and playing 3D games. Then the enthusiasts who seek an increase in the performance of their computers think of overclocking, and today video adapter overclocking is nothing new to us.

Some people may tell that we can use some software such as PowerStrip or NVTweak to execute the graphic card overclocking. Yes, we can make it by loading them, but in my opinion, with its complex function, PowerStrip or NVTweak is a tool for masters-hand, not for all users, especially green hands.

Here, I introduce a very simple way to your NVIDIA Graphics Card overclocking.

No hurry to search and download PowerStrip or NVTweak from the net, the NVIDIA video card driver itself possesses the overclocking feature.

In the previous Detonator drivers, there used to be AGP settings function, the Core and Memory clock adjustment functions, but the functions have been hidden later. Now the commonly used Detonator 40 driver also has such hidden functions, and it is very easy to enable them.

For instance, we open the clock rate Setting item. On the Start menu, click run and input "regedit" press the Enter key then the Registry is open. Find the item "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareNVIDIA CorporationGlobal", and right click "Global" branch, create a new key "NVTweak" (if the "NVTweak" exists, no need to create one). After that, right click "NVTweak", create a new dword key, named "CoolBits". Finally, set the key "CoolBits" as "3", and then you can open the hidden overclocking option of NVIDIA graphic adapter.

If you think opening the Registry is a nuisance, input the below words to a text file editor such as the WordPad built-in Windows.

REGEDIT4 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARENVIDIA CorporationGlobalNvTweak] "CoolBits"=dword: 00000003 The next step is to save this file with reg as its file extension (e.g. nv.reg). Double click nv.reg file then these contents can be run into Registry. What we mentioned above is risky, please be careful with overclocking!

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Purchasing a Video Card

By: Deam Rass

A video card or graphic card is a device that allows for the visualization of images on your computer monitor. Without the card you would not be able to view images, play games or see colors. If you are anything less than a graphics card expect, the shopping process for a video card can be grueling. With a bit of knowledge it should make the trip easier and you may just come home with the correct video card. There are currently more than sixty types of video cards that range in price and specifications. In order to decide which card is right for you there are a few things that you must understand first. Keep in mind the type of computer, purpose and uses of the computer, as well as the expectations for rendered image. After that is all decided you must remember your budget when shopping for the video card.

The type of computer that you have is one of the most important issues when deciding on a video card. You must ensure the compatibility of the card with your PC or it could be a waste of money. To ensure compatibility you will need to know what type of card slot the computers mother board has for the video card. There are three types of card slots that we will discuss further.

• PCI Slot – the PCI slot is short for Peripheral Component Interconnect and is not exclusive with any one processor type. PCI was the first expansion slot made by computer manufacturers. The PCI has limited performance, but there are several value cards that offer acceptable performance.

• AGP Slot – the AGP slot is short for Accelerated Graphics Port. AGP has many versions and was first designed for 3D gaming abilities. Today the AGP 2.0 and 3.0 are sold, but the 1.0 is no longer in use.

• PCI Express – this is the latest card slot and is up to four times faster than the PCI slot or AGP slot. The PCI Express was made with the intention of replacing the PCI and AGP slots for the extended performance ability. Note PCI and PCI Express are not compatible and are very different products, not to be confused with one another.

Along with knowing the card slot type you must also know the requirements and specifications of the CPU. When we refer to requirements and specifications we mean the CPU type and speed. If you are purchasing a video card for regular viewing the 500 MHz will suffice, but for optimal use the 800 MHz is suggested. When viewing images it is important to have a higher MHz or your system may become overloaded. The 1600 MHz range is suggested for limited 3D gaming and running other applications such as business applications or graphics. For optimal 3D gaming the minimum CPU would be 2.4 GHz. Much of the CPU speed depends on computer use and personal budget. The faster the CPU the better and more realistic the special effects are. Cost rises as CPU speed rises!

Diamond products such as Video Card, Graphic Card and recently Windows Vista Video Card stand for performance, quality and value.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

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Choosing the Components to Build your Own Computer

By:IC

Many people now opt to build their own computer so that they are more in control of the specifications they want and save more than just a few pounds. There are a multitude of DIY’s found all over the Internet, and yes, it is possible to build one yourself! But before doing so, you must choose the right components for your computer. Here are some of the very basic components you need to get:

Computer Case

Computer cases now come in a variety of designs and colours. Some now even come with a panel window where you can see the inside parts through. What is important when buying a case is that the size of the case should support the size of the motherboard. A mid-tower case is highly recommended as it has enough room for all the hardware.

Power Supply

The power supply must provide you at least 300 watts and fit right into the computer case you choose. If you are one of those who extreme users or gamers, you may want to buy a bigger power supply to feed additional cooling, USB devices and case lighting.

Processor

The processor is the most important choice you need to make in setting up your own computer. You have to know exactly what kind and how fast you need. There are a variety of options from AMD and Intel, for example: AMD Athlon, AMD Sempron, AMD Duron, Intel Celeron, Intel Core Duo, among others. If you only use the computer to surf the web, do word processing, gaming and some graphics editing, the 1.8 GHz - 2.0 GHz might be enough. Extreme gaming, 3D rendering and video editing would need at least a 2.4GHz processor.

CPU Cooler

Processors usually come with a fan and a heat sink. But it is best to get a cooler that is more efficient and quieter than the one included in the package. Remember to get a thermal compound to put onto the CPU core.

Motherboard

Choose a motherboard that matches your processor's socket type and supports the same bus speed as the CPU.

RAM

Similarly, choose a RAM that is compatible with the motherboard's bus speed. Get at least 512MB of RAM.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

The HDD is your permanent storage for system files, applications, documents, games and so on. Get the largest hard drive capacity that you can afford. If you are on a tight budget, you can get at least a 60GB. Most motherboards have IDE slots for hard drives. Newer ones also have SATA connectors for SATA HDDs, which are quite faster than IDE HDDs.

Graphics Card
If you use the computer for regular office work, you can get a motherboard with a built-in video card. If you use it for gaming, you might want to buy a separate video card. Video cards usually use an AGP slot or a PCI Express slot on the motherboard.

Sound Card

Most motherboards have built-in sound cards which generally have good quality. If you use sound mixing or audio/video editing, you can get at least a 24-bit sound card for better quality.

CD/DVD

Of optical drives, it is best to seek for a DVD/CD-RW combo or a DVD±RW; the latter is a better choice. DVDs have larger capacity to allow you to store more music and movie files and back-up data. If you do not expect to burn disks, you can opt for a CD-R or a DVD-R drive.

JBO Solutions supply Cheap Computer Components to the UK. We also have a great range of Digital Photo Frames

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Want to build a gaming PC but don’t know how?

By:Azhar Iqbal

Now a days PC gaming is growing very rapidly but most of the gamers don’t know to how build a gaming PC. On the other hand most of people play games on low quality computers that do not give them real enjoyment of their games.

For playing games much more power is required as compare to normal applications.
Now let know what things should be kept in mind while building or repairing a gaming computer?

1. If you want to build a gaming computer but you have no such idea, read the different reviews. You will get nice opinions, additional knowledge as well as accurate information that would be helpful to you.

2. Keep in mind to work with careful in your case because some time cheaper cases leave then razor sharp.

3. This would be much beneficial if you prefer to have custom built computer than a computer manufactured by dell.

4. Prefer to buy Intel Core 2 duo because recently Intel has been taken the lead.

5. Always choose the best Motherboard for your gaming computer such AMD’s Socket AM2 and 939 or Intel’s Socket LGA 775.

6. Prefer to have a competent memory that could run your applications effectively.

7. Choose the highest speed video card according to your budget.

There are a lot more issues that you have to keep in mind. The complete articles “how to build a gaming PC” are available at http://www.arbico.co.uk. Read the articles and then go on building your own gaming computer, best of luck.

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How To Troubleshoot a PC That Won't Turn On

From Tim Fisher,

It's a dreadful way to start a day - you press the power button on your PC and nothing happens. Do not fear because all may not be lost! Follow these simple steps to determine why your computer won't turn on.

Note: It is very important to troubleshoot any issue beginning with the most likely and easily testable problem so be sure to follow these steps in order.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours depending on why the computer won't turn on

Here's How:

1. As silly as it may sound, the number one reason why a computer won't turn on is because it wasn't turned on! Before starting a sometimes time consuming troubleshooting process, make sure you've actually turned on both the computer case and the monitor using the power switches on the front of both.

2. Many computers have power switches on the power supply, located on the back of the PC's case. Check this switch, often called the rear power switch, and make sure it is turned on and that the correct voltage is set and then attempt to power on your computer again.

Tip: On is indicated by the "I" symbol and off is indicated by the "O" symbol.

3. Check for loose PC and monitor power cable connections. A loose or unplugged power cable is one of the top reasons why a computer doesn't turn on.

4. Perform a "lamp test" to verify power is being provided. Your computer isn't going to turn on if it's not getting power so you need to make sure that the power source is working properly.

5. A damaged power supply could be preventing the PC from being properly powered, an excellent reason why the PC won't power on.

Do a quick test of the power supply by holding your hand behind the power supply fan located at the rear of the case. If the power supply is working, you should feel air from within the case blowing against your hand. If not, you may need to replace the power supply.

Tip: Is the power light on the front of the computer's case on? If you've turned the power switch on but the light is off, this is another good indication that the power supply is the cause of this issue.

6. Over time, internal components and the cables that connect them can wiggle loose which can often time result in a computer unable to power on. Try reseating the following and then try to power on the PC again:
* Reseat the internal cables
* Reseat the memory modules
* Reseat the video card
* Reseat other expansion cards

7. Reseating the CPU may also be necessary but should only be attempted if the reaseating of all other components is not successful. This is due to the fact that this process is a little more involved and can run a small risk of damage to the CPU (this isn't a big concern if you're careful, so don't worry!).

8. Check for causes of electrical shorts in the computer case. This is often the cause of the problem when the computer powers on for a second or two but then powers off completely.

9. Hearing beeps? You haven't gone mad - your computer may be using a beep code to tell you exactly what's wrong! Troubleshoot the beep code and service the computer as necessary.

10. Most monitors have a small light next to the power button that can change between various colors. If the screen is blank, this light is your main source of information about the monitor.

If this light is not on at all, double-check the power switch and connections (Steps 1, 2 and 3) and also make sure the monitor cable is securely plugged in to the video card port on the back of the computer case. If the light is still off, replace the monitor. If it comes back on, try starting your PC again - a loose or unplugged monitor cable may have been the issue all along.

11. An amber or yellow power light simply means that the monitor is not receiving any information from the computer. In and of itself, this doesn't tell us much.

On the other hand, if the light is amber or yellow, the computer power light is on, and the hard drive is active (making normal sounds and hard drive activity light on the computer case is blinking), the computer is probably starting normally but the video card is not sending information to the monitor. Replace the video card.
Beep codes usually sound when a video card has malfunctioned (Step 9) but this is not always the case.

Tips:
Still can't get your PC to turn on? Let a community of PC support enthusiasts help out! Post the details of your problem in the Focus on PC Support Forums.

source: about.com

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