Windows XP Shortcuts

Run Commands

compmgmt.msc – Computer management
devmgmt.msc – Device manager
diskmgmt.msc – Disk management
dfrg.msc – Disk defrag
eventvwr.msc – Event viewer
fsmgmt.msc – Shared folders
gpedit.msc – Group policies
lusrmgr.msc – Local users and groups
perfmon.msc – Performance monitor
rsop.msc – Resultant set of policies
secpol.msc – Local security settings
services.msc – Various Services
msconfig – System Configuration Utility
regedit – Registry Editor
msinfo32 _ System Information
sysedit _ System Edit
win.ini _ windows loading information(also system.ini)
winver _ Shows current version of windows
mailto: _ Opens default email client
command _ Opens command prompt

Run Commands to access the control panel

Add/Remove Programs control appwiz.cpl
Date/Time Properties control timedate.cpl
Display Properties control desk.cpl
FindFast control findfast.cpl
Fonts Folder control fonts
Internet Properties control inetcpl.cpl
Keyboard Properties control main.cpl keyboard
Mouse Properties control main.cpl
Multimedia Properties control mmsys.cpl
Network Properties control netcpl.cpl
Password Properties control password.cpl
Printers Folder control printers
Sound Properties control mmsys.cpl sounds
System Properties control sysdm.cpl

Command Prompt

ANSI.SYS Defines functions that change display graphics, control cursor movement, and reassign keys.
APPEND Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file or running a command.
ARP Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices.
ASSIGN Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter.
ASSOC View the file associations.
AT Schedule a time to execute commands or programs.
ATMADM Lists connections and addresses seen by Windows ATM call manager.
ATTRIB Display and change file attributes.
BATCH Recovery console command that executes a series of commands in a file.
BOOTCFG Recovery console command that allows a user to view, modify, and rebuild the boot.ini
BREAK Enable / disable CTRL + C feature.
CACLS View and modify file ACL’s.
CALL Calls a batch file from another batch file.
CD Changes directories.
CHCP Supplement the International keyboard and character set information.
CHDIR Changes directories.
CHKDSK Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors.
CHKNTFS Check the hard disk drive running NTFS for errors.
CHOICE Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file.
CLS Clears the screen.
CMD Opens the command interpreter.
COLOR Easily change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS window.
COMP Compares files.
COMPACT Compresses and uncompress files.
CONTROL Open control panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt.
CONVERT Convert FAT to NTFS.
COPY Copy one or more files to an alternate location.
CTTY Change the computers input/output devices.
DATE View or change the systems date.
DEBUG Debug utility to create assembly programs to modify hardware settings.
DEFRAG Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs.
DEL Deletes one or more files.
DELETE Recovery console command that deletes a file.
DELTREE Deletes one or more files and/or directories.
DIR List the contents of one or more directory.
DISABLE Recovery console command that disables Windows system services or drivers.
DISKCOMP Compare a disk with another disk.
DISKCOPY Copy the contents of one disk and place them on another disk.
DOSKEY Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past.
DOSSHELL A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users.
DRIVPARM Enables overwrite of original device drivers.
ECHO Displays messages and enables and disables echo.
EDIT View and edit files.
EDLIN View and edit files.
EMM386 Load extended Memory Manager.
ENABLE Recovery console command to enable a disable service or driver.
ENDLOCAL Stops the localization of the environment changes enabled by the setlocal command.
ERASE Erase files from computer.
EXIT Exit from the command interpreter.
EXPAND Expand a M*cros*ft Windows file back to it’s original format.
EXTRACT Extract files from the M*cros*ft Windows cabinets.
FASTHELP Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands and information about them.
FC Compare files.
FDISK Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive.
FIND Search for text within a file.
FINDSTR Searches for a string of text within a file.
FIXBOOT Writes a new boot sector.
FIXMBR Writes a new boot record to a disk drive.
FOR Boolean used in batch files.
FORMAT Command to erase and prepare a disk drive.
FTP Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.
FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTO Moves a batch file to a specific label or location.
GRAFTABL Show extended characters in graphics mode.
HELP Display a listing of commands and brief explanation.
IF Allows for batch files to perform conditional processing.
IFSHLP.SYS 32-bit file manager.
IPCONFIG Network command to view network adapter settings and assigned values.
KEYB Change layout of keyboard.
LABEL Change the label of a disk drive.
LH Load a device driver in to high memory.
LISTSVC Recovery console command that displays the services and drivers.
LOADFIX Load a program above the first 64k.
LOADHIGH Load a device driver in to high memory.
LOCK Lock the hard disk drive.
LOGON Recovery console command to list installations and enable administrator login.
MAP Displays the device name of a drive.
MD Command to create a new directory.
MEM Display memory on system.
MKDIR Command to create a new directory.
MODE Modify the port or display settings.
MORE Display one page at a time.
MOVE Move one or more files from one directory to another directory.
MSAV Early M*cros*ft Virus scanner.
MSD Diagnostics utility.
MSCDEX Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM.
NBTSTAT Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT
NET Update, fix, or view the network or network settings
NETSH Configure dynamic and static network information from MS-DOS.
NETSTAT Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.
NLSFUNC Load country specific information.
NSLOOKUP Look up an IP address of a domain or host on a network.
PATH View and modify the computers path location.
PATHPING View and locate locations of network latency.
PAUSE Command used in batch files to stop the processing of a command.
PING Test / send information to another network computer or network device.
POPD Changes to the directory or network path stored by the pushd command.
POWER Conserve power with computer portables.
PRINT Prints data to a printer port.
PROMPT View and change the MS-DOS prompt.
PUSHD Stores a directory or network path in memory so it can be returned to at any time.
QBASIC Open the QBasic.
RD Removes an empty directory.
REN Renames a file or directory.
RENAME Renames a file or directory.
RMDIR Removes an empty directory.
ROUTE View and configure windows network route tables.
RUNAS Enables a user to execute a program on another computer.
SCANDISK Run the scandisk utility.
SCANREG Scan registry and recover registry from errors.
SET Change one variable or string to another.
SETLOCAL Enables local environments to be changed without affecting anything else.
SETVER Change MS-DOS version to trick older MS-DOS programs.
SHARE Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities.
SHIFT Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program.
SHUTDOWN Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt.
SMARTDRV Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory.
SORT Sorts the input and displays the output to the screen.
START Start a separate window in Windows from the MS-DOS prompt.
SUBST Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter.
SWITCHES Remove add functions from MS-DOS.
SYS Transfer system files to disk drive.
TELNET Telnet to another computer / device from the prompt.
TIME View or modify the system time.
TITLE Change the title of their MS-DOS window.
TRACERT Visually view a network packets route across a network.
TREE View a visual tree of the hard disk drive.
TYPE Display the contents of a file.
UNDELETE Undelete a file that has been deleted.
UNFORMAT Unformat a hard disk drive.
UNLOCK Unlock a disk drive.
VER Display the version information.
VERIFY Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been written properly.
VOL Displays the volume information about the designated drive.
XCOPY Copy multiple files, directories, and/or drives from one location to another.
TRUENAME When placed before a file, will display the whole directory in which it exists
TASKKILL It allows you to kill those unneeded or locked up applications

Windows XP Shortcuts:

ALT+- (ALT+hyphen) Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window’s System menu
ALT+ENTER View properties for the selected item
ALT+ESC Cycle through items in the order they were opened
ALT+F4 Close the active item, or quit the active program
ALT+SPACEBAR Display the System menu for the active window
ALT+TAB Switch between open items
ALT+Underlined letter Display the corresponding menu
BACKSPACE View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer
CTRL+A Select all
CTRL+B Bold
CTRL+C Copy
CTRL+I Italics
CTRL+O Open an item
CTRL+U Underline
CTRL+V Paste
CTRL+X Cut
CTRL+Z Undo
CTRL+F4 Close the active document
CTRL while dragging Copy selected item
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging Create shortcut to selected iteM
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word
CTRL+LEFT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL+DOWN ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL+UP ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph
SHIFT+DELETE Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin
ESC Cancel the current task
F1 Displays Help
F2 Rename selected item
F3 Search for a file or folder
F4 Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer
F5 Refresh the active window
F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10 Activate the menu bar in the active program
SHIFT+F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
CTRL+ESC Display the Start menu
SHIFT+CTRL+ESC Launches Task Manager
SHIFT when you insert a CD Prevent the CD from automatically playing
WIN Display or hide the Start menu
WIN+BREAK Display the System Properties dialog box
WIN+D Minimizes all Windows and shows the Desktop
WIN+E Open Windows Explorer
WIN+F Search for a file or folder
WIN+F+CTRL Search for computers
WIN+L Locks the desktop
WIN+M Minimize or restore all windows
WIN+R Open the Run dialog box
WIN+TAB Switch between open items

Windows Explorer Shortcuts:

ALT+SPACEBAR – Display the current window’s system menu
SHIFT+F10 – Display the item’s context menu
CTRL+ESC – Display the Start menu
ALT+TAB – Switch to the window you last used
ALT+F4 – Close the current window or quit
CTRL+A – Select all items
CTRL+X – Cut selected item(s)
CTRL+C – Copy selected item(s)
CTRL+V – Paste item(s)
CTRL+Z – Undo last action
CTRL+(+) – Automatically resize the columns in the right hand pane
TAB – Move forward through options
ALT+RIGHT ARROW – Move forward to a previous view
ALT+LEFT ARROW – Move backward to a previous view
SHIFT+DELETE – Delete an item immediately
BACKSPACE – View the folder one level up
ALT+ENTER – View an item’s properties
F10 – Activate the menu bar in programs
F6 – Switch between left and right panes
F5 – Refresh window contents
F3 – Display Find application
F2 – Rename selected item

Internet Explorer Shortcuts:

CTRL+A – Select all items on the current page
CTRL+D – Add the current page to your Favorites
CTRL+E – Open the Search bar
CTRL+F – Find on this page
CTRL+H – Open the History bar
CTRL+I – Open the Favorites bar
CTRL+N – Open a new window
CTRL+O – Go to a new location
CTRL+P – Print the current page or active frame
CTRL+S – Save the current page
CTRL+W – Close current browser window
CTRL+ENTER – Adds the http://www. (url) .com
SHIFT+CLICK – Open link in new window
BACKSPACE – Go to the previous page
ALT+HOME – Go to your Home page
HOME – Move to the beginning of a document
TAB – Move forward through items on a page
END – Move to the end of a document
ESC – Stop downloading a page
F11 – Toggle full-screen view
F5 – Refresh the current page
F4 – Display list of typed addresses
F6 – Change Address bar and page focus
ALT+RIGHT ARROW – Go to the next page
SHIFT+CTRL+TAB – Move back between frames
SHIFT+F10 – Display a shortcut menu for a link
SHIFT+TAB – Move back through the items on a page
CTRL+TAB – Move forward between frames
CTRL+C – Copy selected items to the clipboard
CTRL+V – Insert contents of the clipboard
ENTER – Activate a selected link
HOME – Move to the beginning of a document
END – Move to the end of a document
F1 – Display Internet Explorer Help

source:http://www.stumblerz.com/windows-xp-shortcuts-must-have/

Multicore Processor Technology

All About Dual-Core Processors

Dual-core refers to a CPU that includes two complete execution cores per physical processor. It combines two processors and their caches and cache controllers onto a single integrated circuit (silicon chip). It is basically two processors, in most cases, residing reside side-by-side on the same die.

Dual-processor, Dual-core, and Multi-core:     Keeping it straight Dual-processor (DP) systems are those that contains two separate physical computer processors in the same chassis. In dual-processor systems, the two processors can either be located on the same motherboard or on separate boards.  In a dual-core configuration, an integrated circuit (IC) contains two complete computer processors. Usually, the two identical processors are manufactured so they reside side-by-side on the same die, each with its own path to the system front-side bus. Multi-core is somewhat of an expansion to dual-core technology and allows for more than two separate processors. Taking Advantage of Dual-core Technology A dual-core processor has many advantages especially for those looking to boost their system's  multitasking computing power. Dual-core processors provide two complete execution cores instead of one, each with an independent interface to thefrontside bus. Since each core has its own cache, the operating system has sufficient resources to handle intensive tasks in parallel, which provides a noticeable improvement to multitasking.

Complete optimization for the dual-core processor requires both the operating system and applications running on the computer to support a technology called thread-level parallelism, or TLP. Thread-level parallelism is the part of the OS or application that runs multiple threads simultaneously, where threads refer to the part of a program that can execute independently of other parts.

Even without a multithread-enabled application, you will still see benefits of dual-core processors if you are running an OS that supports TLP. For example, if you have Microsoft Windows XP (which supports multithreading), you could have your Internet browser open along with a virus scanner running in the background, while using Windows Media Player to stream your favorite radio station and the dual-core processor will handle the multiple threads of these programs running simultaneously with an increase in performance and efficiency.

Today Windows XP and hundreds of applications already support multithread technology, especially applications that are used for editing and creating music files, videos and graphics because types of programs need to perform operations in parallel. As dual-core technology becomes more common in homes and the workplace, you can expect to see more applications support thread-level parallelism.

Intel & AMD Dual-core Desktop Processors

The Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition 840 running at 3.2 GHz and Intel 955X Express Chipsets are being built into computers that are now entering the market. This is Intel's first desktop dual-core product supporting Hyper-Threading Technology. Processor features include the following:

• Hyper-Threading Technology: Enables you to run multiple demanding applications at the same time.
• Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology: Provides flexibility for future applications that support both 32-bit and 64-bit computing.
• Dual-Core: Two physical cores in one processor support better system responsiveness and multi-tasking capability than a comparable single core processor.  [Source: Intel Dual-core Desktop Processor]

AMD also announced its line of desktop dual-core processors, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor family. The initial model numbers in the new family include the 4200+, 4400+, 4600+ and 4800+ (2.2GHz to 2.4GHz).The processors are based on AMD64 technology and are compatible with the existing base of x86 software, whether single-threaded or multithreaded. Software applications will be able to support AMD64 dual-core processors with a simple BIOS upgrade and no substantial code changes. [Source: AMD Dual-core Desktop Processor]

Both companies have also announced or released dual-core processors for servers and workstations as well.

Did You Know...
"If we assume that the number of transistors per processor core remains relatively fixed, it is reasonable to assume that the number of processor cores could follow Moore's Law, which states that the number of transistors per a certain area on the chip will double approximately every 18 months." [Source: Intel Software network/Dev]

Key Terms To Understanding Dual-core dual-core Dual-core refers to a CPU that includes two complete execution cores per physical processor. CPU Abbreviation of central processing unit, and pronounced as separate letters. The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the processor or central processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. processor Short for microprocessor or CPU. integrated circuit  Another name for a chip, an integrated circuit (IC) is a small electronic device made out of a semiconductor material. Source:

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2005/dual_core.asp

Inside Ur PC (6) : USB

Types of Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices and standards
Today just about every PC comes with Universal Serial Bus, or USB ports. In fact, many computers will even have additional USB ports located on the front of the tower, in additional to two standard USB ports at the back. In the late 1990s, a few computer manufacturers started including USB support in their new systems, but today USB has become a standard connection port for many devices such as keyboards, mice, joysticks and digital cameras to name but a few USB-enabled devices. USB is able to support and is supported by a large range of products.
Adding to the appeal of USB is that it is supported at the operating system level, and compared to alternative ports such as parallel or serial ports, USB is very user-friendly. When USB first started appearing in the marketplace, it was (and still is) referred to as a plug-and-play port because of its ease of use. Consumers without a lot of technical or hardware knowledge were able to easily connect USB devices to their computer. You no longer needed to turn the computer off to install the devices either. You simply plug them in and go. USB devices can also be used across multiple platforms. USB works on Windows and Mac, plus can be used with other operating systems, such as Linux, for example, with a reliable degree of success.
Before USB, connecting devices to your system was often a hassle. Modems and digital cameras were connected via the serial port which was quite slow, as only 1 bit is transmitted at a time through a serial port. While printers generally required a parallel printer port, which is able to receive more than one bit at a time — that is, it receives several bits in parallel. Most systems provided two serial ports and a parallel printer port. If you had several devices, unhooking one device and setting up the software and drivers to use another device could often be problematic for the user.
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The introduction of USB ended many of the headaches associated with needing to use serial ports and parallel printer ports. USB offered consumers the option to connect up to 127 devices, either directly or through the use of a USB hub. It was much faster since USB supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps for disk drives and other high-speed throughput and 1.5Mbps for devices that need less bandwidth. Additionally, consumers can literally plug almost any USB device into their computer, and Windows will detect it and automatically set-up the hardware settings for the device. Once that device has been installed you can remove it from your system and the next time you plug it in, Windows will automatically detect it.
USB 1x
First released in 1996, the original USB 1.0 standard offered data rates of 1.5 Mbps. The USB 1.1 standard followed with two data rates: 12 Mbps for devices such as disk drives that need high-speed throughput and 1.5 Mbps for devices such as joysticks that need much less bandwidth.
USB 2x
In 2002 a newer specification USB 2.0, also called Hi-Speed USB 2.0, was introduced. It increased the data transfer rate for PC to USB device to 480 Mbps, which is 40 times faster than the USB 1.1 specification. With the increased bandwidth, high throughput peripherals such as digital cameras, CD burners and video equipment could now be connected with USB. It also allowed for multiple high-speed devices to run simultaneously. Another important feature of USB 2.0 is that it supports Windows XP through Windows update.
USB OTG
USB On-the-Go (OTG) addresses the need for devices to communicate directly for mobile connectivity. USB OTG allows consumers to connect mobile devices without a PC. For example, USB OTG lets consumers plug their digital camera directly into a compliant printer and print directly from the camera, removing the need to go through the computer. Similarly, a PDA keyboard with a USB OTG interface can communicatea with any brand PDA that has a USB OTG interface.
USB-OTG also provides limited host capability to communicate with selected other USB peripherals, a small USB connector to fit the mobile form factor and low power features to preserve battery life. USB OTG is a supplement to the USB 2.0 specification.
Types of USB Connectors
Currently, there are four types of USB connectors: Type A, Type B, mini-A and mini-B and are supported by the different USB specifications (USB 1, USB 2 and USB-OTG).

USB A (Host)
Often referred to as the downstream connector, the Type A USB connector is rectangular in shape and is the one you use to plug into the CPU or USB hub.

USB B (Device)
Also called the upstream connector, the Type B USB connector is more box-shaped and is the end that attaches directly to the device (such as a printer or digital camera).
USB 1.1 specifies the Type A and Type B.

Mini-B
The USB 2.0 connector was too large for many of the new handheld devices, such as PDAs and cell phones. The mini-B was introduced to enable consumers to take advantage of USB PC connectivity for these smaller devices.
USB 2.0 specifies the Type A, Type B and mini-B.

Mini-A
With the need to connect mobile devices without the aid of a computer, the mini-A port was designed to connect the new generation of smaller mobile devices.
USB OTG specifies the mini-A.
Certified Wireless USB
With an estimated 2 billion plus USB connected devices in the world and a growing interest in wireless computing, it's no surprise that development has turned to wireless USB. The USB Implementers Forum has introduced Certified Wireless USB the newest extension to the USB technology. Wireless USB applies wireless technology to existing USB standards to enable wireless consumers to still use USB devices without the mess of wires and worry of cords. Still in its infancy, the Wireless USB specifications were made available to the public only in May 2005.
Wireless USB is based on the WiMedia MAC Convergence Architecture, using the WiMedia Alliance's MB-OFDM ultra wideband MAC and PHY. It delivers speeds equivalent to wired Hi-Speed USB, with bandwidths of 480Mbs at 3 meters and 110 Mbs at 10 meters.
Did You Know...
USB was introduced in 1997 but the technology didn't catch on until the introduction of the Apple iMac in 1998 —ironic because USB was developed by several PC-focused companies, including Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel and Microsoft.
Key Terms To Understanding USB

USB
Short for Universal Serial Bus, an external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps.

USB 2.0
Also referred to as Hi-Speed USB, USB 2.0 is an external bus that supports data rates up to 480Mbps. USB 2.0 is an extension of USB 1.1.

USB OTG
Short for USB On-The-Go, an extension of the USB 2.0 specification for connecting peripheral devices to each other. USB OTG products can communicate with each other without the need to be connected to a PC.

Parts Of Motherboard

What are the Parts of a Motherboard?

So now the question is what are the standard computer motherboard components that are present in the machines in use today. Knowing the basics of these parts will help you solve many computer motherboard problems that may arise from time to time. Additionally, if you have to build a computer yourself then you can also use this knowledge to learn more about the various motherboard types that are available in the market. The layout and the manner in which the various computer motherboard parts are placed is known as the form factor. The shape of the case of the computer is also decided by the form factor. To standardize the manner in which computers are assembled across the world, there are certain fixed models for deciding this form factor and most manufacturers adhere to these standards. Given below is a list that will throw light on all the functions that the parts of a motherboard performs.

Click Here to view the IMAGE

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Slot
Normally, the number of PCI slots on the motherboard could be anywhere between 1 and 6. The various peripherals like graphics cards, sound cards, ethernet cards, modems and DVD recorders are attached here, and the slots are 32 bit slots. PCI is a standard that has been around for almost two decades now, and a faster version of it known as PCI-E is also quite common today, and this allows the different computer components to be attached to the computer with ease.

Central Processing Unit (CPU) Socket
This socket is the home for your computer's processor. There are 2 types of sockets that are commonly used by the major processors (Intel and AMD), these are Pin Grid Array (PGA) and the Land Grid Array (LGA). The biggest advantage of these sockets is that they allow the simple swapping of processors inside a machine, and this allows computer users to really enhance the versatility of their computer.

Motherboard Battery Compartment
When you shut your system down, your data is stored in a battery on the motherboard. This motherboard battery is placed inside the battery compartment that is present on the surface of your motherboard.

RAM slots (DIMM and SIMM)
These are the slots that hold the RAM chips of your computer. They are usually of two types, DIMM (Double Inline Memory Module) and SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module). Memory chips of different sizes can be attached here so as to increase the efficiency of the machine, and to make it more comfortable to work on multiple programs at a time.

Power Connector
The motherboard requires the power to function properly and this power supply comes from the main power connector. There are usually two main types of connectors; 20 + 4 pins (when there are two connectors on the same motherboard), and the 24 pins.

Apart from these components, the following are some motherboard peripherals that are specifically used for making connections with hardware devices. These connectors show up on the back panel of the computer, once the entire machine has been assembled and mounted.

PS/2 Connectors
Every motherboard contains two PS/2 connectors, one for the keyboard and one for the mouse. These are color coded ports (purple is for the keyboard and green is for the mouse) and have been around ever since computers showed up in the 80's. Today these ports are being edged out by USB ports, but they are still prevalent.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port
There are many of these ports across the back panel. They are used for connecting external devices like USB flash drives, external hard disks, iPods, MP3 players and cameras. Every computer has at least 2 such ports, and more of them are always welcome. The versatility that USB ports offer is truly unmatched in the realm of computers.

Game Port
This port is mostly used to connect the devices that are used for gaming purposes. Gamepads, joysticks and other gaming accessories can be attached to the machine through this port and this flexibility is something that many users and gamers find highly useful.

Display Connector
This port is used to connect the computer monitor of the machine to the back panel. This is the primary connection between the monitor and the CPU itself, so there is no question of this part being absent in any desktop computer.

Sound Card Connector
Your sound devices like headphones and microphones are connected here. Most computers have built in sound cards, but some people also choose to attach an additional sound card so as to improve the functionality of the machine. The most common use of this connector is for multimedia purposes.

This article on computer motherboard information should illuminate the many purposes of the various computer motherboard parts. All these parts are now a standard requirement for every computer to function properly, and their popularity has slowly transformed them into a necessity for every single computer motherboard.

Inside Ur PC (5) : Cache Memory

Cache Memory

Cache Memory is a part of computer memory. Cache Memory is a type of Memory device which is a part of Memory Unit of the CPU. Cache Memory is usually considered as a tiny part of Random Access Memory (i.e. RAM) that has been allocated to keep operations that are often carried out. It helps in speeding up the processors as it does not have to search through the whole computer, therefore making the actions operate faster. Cache Memory is basically a high speed buffer between the CPU and the Main Memory.

The more the cache memory in a computer, the faster the computer will be running. As the cache memory will be larger, more of this memory is used and additional information is stored which reduces the speeds. Now- a- days, cache memory is being given a lot of weightage while buying a new computer system. This type of memory is also termed as SDRAM that is also known as high speed static memory. It is much quicker than DRAM as DRAM has to be constantly refreshed or will lose its contents.

It is not feasible for the CPU to fetch data directly from the disk drives as the disk drives are too slow (even in the case of faster hard disk drives available now- a- days). The CPU processes the requests to the RAM which locates the data and responds back to the CPU, but this process is very time consuming as the speed of RAM, compared to the CPU, is very slow. So to reduce this overhead, Cache memory is placed and the programs being executed again and again or the data being processed frequently is stored in cache memory. Cache memory needs not to search the locations and responds back to the CPU immediately when the request is made, which results in faster processing of the processor. It means that the CPU consults the Cache Memory and when it cannot find the instructions, it looks into the Main Memory. Cache Memory is also termed as a fast RAM.

When a required page is found in the Cache, it is called Cache Hit and when it is not found in the cache, it is termed as Cache Miss.

Some of the advantages of Cache memory are:

It provides faster accessing of the data

No time is wasted in retrieving the data for the primary or secondary memory.

Remember, Cache Memory is different from Cache.. Read this Extension reading about Cache

Article Source: http://www.trivology.com/articles/239/what-is-cache-memory.html

What is Cache?

In my own terms, cache is a temporary place to keep a copy of information for faster retrieval on the second request for said information.  You might guess that I would continue on to say that information in this context is nearly anything you want it to be.  It could be a stretch to say that moving the coffee brewer closer to you is no different than saving a web page onto your local computer so that the next time you need another cup, or need to visit that web page again, it’s cached for quicker delivery.

And that’s exactly it.  Cache is nothing more than a mechanism that allows you to surf faster because the resources the page needs (images, the html page) are already available on the computer you are working on.  The page doesn’t need to reach out across the Internet to get that picture or other things.

Here’s another way to think of it.  Imagine you visit a particular site every day.  This site has a banner graphic across the top that is quite large, and every time you visit, it takes a while for the large header image to travel across the wires every time.  That sucks.  Really, it does.

If that header graphic was stored on your computer, the browser you are using could be set up to detect that you’ve visited this page before, and that large graphic is sitting right over here next to us.  Why bother to download it again when we have it right here!

Your browser can also be set up to detect when the graphic files are different and download the image to refresh your cache.

Most browsers are pre-configured to store some information into cache for quicker access to repeat data.

Remember Cache is different from Cache Memory

Inside Ur PC (4) : RAM & ROM Difference

RAM vs ROM

RAM and ROM are both different types of memories used in any computer to make it fast and to enable it to access information stored in the computer. Every computer comes with a certain amount of physical memory which is actually chips that hold data. This memory is referred to as Random Access Memory or RAM. RAM is a part of hardware that stores operating system’s application programs and currently running processes that can be accessed randomly, i.e. in any order that the user desires. Data in RAM stays for only as long as the computer is running, and gets deleted as soon as computer is switched off. RAM usually comes in the form of microchips of different sizes such as 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB etc. Computers are so designed that this RAM can be increased up to a certain capacity.

ROM, on the other hand refers to Read Only Memory. Every computer comes fitted with this memory that holds instructions for starting up the computer. This is a memory that has data written permanently on it and is not reusable. However, there are certain kinds of read only memory that can be rewritten but they are called Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, or EPROM. These are generally in the form of CD-ROM or Floppy Disk that can load the OS to the RAM.

Similarities between RAM and ROM end up with both being types of memories. There are glaring differences between the RAM and the ROM.

Difference between RAM and ROM

• RAM is Random Access Memory, while ROM stands for Read Only Memory.

• RAM is volatile and is erased when the computer is switched off. ROM is non-volatile and generally cannot be written to.

• RAM is used for both read and write while ROM is used only for reading.

• RAM needs electricity to flow to retain information while ROM is permanent.

• RAM is analogous to a blackboard on which information can be written with a chalk and erased any number of times, while ROM is permanent and can only be read. One example is BIOS (basic input output system) that runs when computer is switched on and it prepares disk drives and processor to load OS from disk.

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