More details at HotHardware.
VIA Launches New Low Power QuadCore Nano CPU - More news at DV Hardware
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
VIA Launches New Low Power QuadCore Nano CPU
More details at HotHardware.
VIA Launches New Low Power QuadCore Nano CPU - More news at DV Hardware
NVIDIA releases fiscal Q1 2012 results
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) today reported revenue of $962.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 ended May 1, 2011, up 8.5 percent from the prior quarter, and down 4.0 percent from $1.0 billion from the same period a year earlier.
On a GAAP basis, the company recorded net income of $135.2 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2012. That compares with net income of $171.7 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the previous quarter, which included a $57.0 million credit to operating expenses related to the legal settlement in connection with a new Intel licensing agreement. In the same period a year earlier, the company had net income of $137.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share.
On a non-GAAP basis, net income was $165.7 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2012. That compares with non-GAAP net income of $142.4 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the prior quarter, and $169.0 million, $0.29 per diluted share, in the same period a year earlier.
GAAP gross margin was 50.4 percent, a third consecutive record, compared with 48.1 percent in the previous quarter and 45.6 percent in the same period a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 50.6 percent, compared with 48.3 percent in the prior quarter and 45.7 percent in the same period a year earlier.
"Our core GPU businesses are solid, with expanding revenues and margins. And this quarter, our Tegra mobile business took off," said Jen-Hsun Huang, NVIDIA president and chief executive officer. "With the Tegra super chip and the Icera wireless communication processor, we will offer our customers the two most important processors of the mobile computing revolution. We look forward to completing the Icera acquisition shortly."
Excluding the Icera acquisition, the outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 is as follows:
- Revenue is expected to be up 4 to 6 percent from the first quarter.
- GAAP gross margin is expected to be 50.5 to 51.5 percent.
- GAAP operating expenses are expected to be between $332 and $336 million.
- GAAP tax rate is expected to be 14 to 16 percent.
NVIDIA releases fiscal Q1 2012 results - More news at DV Hardware
Revised GeForce GTX 590 Cards In June
Read more at VR Zone.
Revised GeForce GTX 590 Cards In June - More news at DV Hardware
TRENDnet debuts first 500Mbps powerline adapter
TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, today announces the availability of the first to market 500Mbps Powerline AV Adapter Kit with Bonus Outlet, model TPL-402E2K. The kit comes with two 500 Mbps adapters that feature a built in electrical outlet and embedded power saving technology.
The 500Mbps Powerline AV Adapter Kit with Bonus Outlet creates a secure high speed building-wide network from any electrical outlet. Consumers won't lose the use of an outlet when the adapter is plugged in -as an additional electrical socket is built into the front of the adapter. Connect one adapter to your network, and plug the second adapter into any outlet on your electrical system for instant high speed network access. Connect adapters quickly using the convenient one-touch connect button. Install up to sixteen Powerline adapters in different rooms for building-wide networking.
Green power saving technology reduces power consumption by up to 70% in standby mode-resulting in significant power savings as this product is always plugged in. Products such as coffee makers, washing machines, microwaves, vacuums, and other household appliances create electrical power spikes. An advanced electrical noise filter maintains high performance signal strength, thereby significantly boosting performance. LED displays convey device status for easy power management and troubleshooting.
The 500Mbps Powerline AV Adapter Kit with Bonus Outlet, model TPL-402E2K, comes with a three year limited warranty and is currently shipping to all online and retail partners.
The MSRP for the TPL-402E2K is US $179.99.
TRENDnet debuts first 500Mbps powerline adapter - More news at DV Hardware
OCZ debuts Talos 6Gbps SAS SSD
OCZ announced Talos, a SAS solid state disk available in capacities of up to 960GB.
OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:OCZ), a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, announces the Talos series, a line of Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) SSDs designed for enterprise applications that require ultra-fast, high capacity solutions equipped with multi-level cell (MLC) NAND. Talos brings new strength to the Company's storage lineup by expanding the availability of OCZ's proprietary Virtualized Controller Architecture� (VCA) technology to storage OEMs.
"We have experienced considerable demand for our high-capacity VCA-enabled SAS products, both with and without enhanced power fail protection," said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology Group. "The new OCZ Talos SSD series delivers the ultimate combination of performance, scalability, and reliability. Talos series drives are tailored to meet the needs of most enterprises in a non-customer specific format, including balanced compressed and incompressible data performance and balanced read/write IOPS, all in the highest capacity SAS 6Gbps drive available today."
Talos SAS SSDs deliver incredible speed with up to 64,000 4K random IOPS and are specifically optimized for enterprise storage applications, providing clients who require substantial transactional processing with superior performance and cost-savings. Additionally, the Talos SAS interface offers the benefits of interoperability and integration with existing devices, flexibility for traditional storage environments, and the ability to scale greater amounts of drives, providing larger aggregate pools of storage. The drives also deliver world-class reliability features including superior power loss protection, endurance, encryption, and ECC protection.
Unique to OCZ products, the Talos series leverages VCA technology which provides customers with robust enterprise features including TRIM, SMART monitoring, native command queuing (NCQ), tagged command queuing (TCQ), power fail management, and wear-leveling; all within a single streamlined solution. With Talos and VCA technology, clients can now deploy an SSD solution that delivers advanced application performance, all the necessary enterprise features, and substantial power savings, at a better total cost of ownership.
To address the complete spectrum of customer applications, Talos SSDs are available in 3.5-inch form factors (2.5-inch to follow) and range from 200GB to 960GB. OCZ is now sampling Talos to strategic customers and the drives will be made available to SMB and enterprise clients through OCZ's business-to-business channel.
OCZ debuts Talos 6Gbps SAS SSD - More news at DV Hardware
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
What Does the Inverter Do on Laptops?
type="html">
Electricity is delivered to your home as alternating current, but laptops and many other electronics use the simpler direct current. The power inverter on your laptop cord is responsible for switching current from alternating to direct.
Direct Current
Direct current (DC) electricity can be envisioned as flowing through conductive material in much the same way water does. The current moves through a circuit in one direction and at a constant voltage. This greater uniformity of current makes it ideal for powering laptops and other electronics.
Alternating Current
While DC power is effective and easily controlled over short distances, it quickly dissipates when sent too far. DC power supply would only be able to practically deliver electricity to homes within a one-mile radius of a power plant, so an alternative is necessary. Alternating current (AC) electricity, which oscillates quickly between positive and negative voltage as they make their way through a circuit, can travel for long distances without significant loss, which makes it far more suited for power transmission.
Inverters
Power inverters for laptops are usually large blocks found in the middle of the cord. These devices convert electricity from AC to DC so it can be safely used by the laptop. Each inverter generates electricity of a specific voltage intended for use with a specific computer, so they are not all interchangeable.
Energy Vampires
Some energy is necessarily lost inside the inverter during the converter process. While this is generally a small amount of electricity, power inverters continually convert electricity the entire time they are plugged in, regardless of whether your laptop is on or off. Devices like power inverters that constantly leach and waste energy when not in use are sometimes called energy vampires.
IEEE Standard Wiring Colors
type="html">
IEEE does not specify wiring colors; this is done by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). However, IEEE standards must be followed for electronics and electrical design using wires following TIA color codes. Furthermore, IEEE has color-coded its electronics design books based on the type of equipment, called the IEEE "Color Books."
Default Color
According to "LAN Wiring" by James Trulove, "the most common color for nonplenum coax cable is black. Most of the nonplenum cable that is used for LAN wiring will have a black synthetic rubber or PVC outer jacket with white markings." The white markings then specify the wiring type and the standards that the wiring meets, such as IEEE or EIA standards.
Four-Pair Wiring Colors
The Telecommunications Industry Association has issued standard TIA 568A and 568B that define a standard color code for wiring. Each color combination for a wire pair identifies the type of wire. "Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide" by Michael Meyers says "manufacturers color-code each wire within a piece of a four-pair UTP to assist in properly matching the ends. Each pair of wires consists of a solid-colored white and a striped wire: blue/blue-white, orange/orange-white, brown/brown-white, and green/green-white." Wiring can be color-coded based on the connection speed and end connector in accordance with TIA 568A and 568B in addition to meeting IEEE design standards. According to "Planning for the Fiber Distributed Data Interface" by William E. Burr, "the connector used for terminating the shielded twisted pair at the outlet is that specified by ANSI / IEEE 802.5 (token ring)."
25-Pair Wiring Colors
There is also a 25-pair color code for cables. "Residential Network Cabling" by BICSI says "the ring colors are blue, orange, green, brown and slate. The ring color identifies the position of the pair within the group of five tip possibilities." The color code for wires, in combination with rings, allows up to 25 unique pairings without duplication.
IEEE Color Books
IEEE Color Books are identified by different color dust jackets. For example, "The Electrical Systems Design & Specification Handbook for Industrial Facilities" by Steven Marrano and Craig DiLouie states "IEEE standard 141 (is) 'Recommended Practice for Electric Power Distribution for Industrial Plants, 'The Red Book'; IEEE Standard 142 'Recommended Practices for Grounding of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems,' (is) 'The Green Book'". These IEEE Color Books include recommended practices on wiring layout and connections. The IEEE Color Books provide IEEE recommendations how connectors must be identified and wiring must be labeled. The recommendations in the IEEE Color Books are also shared with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Repair the Lid Close Switch on a Toshiba Tecra A2 Laptop
type="html">
Switch on a Tecra A2 laptop is the button that communicates when to turn off the screen when you close the laptop lid. A dirty close switch might get stuck inside the laptop and interrupt power supply from the inverter board. If your screen remains blank when the laptop is open, you might have a jammed close switch.
1). Use your index finger to press down on the close switch. Apply force to unstick a sticky close switch.
2). Dislodge dirt and debris with a pair of tweezers. Maneuver the tweezers around the close switch to remove buildup.
3). Spray the base of the close switch with compressed air. The burst of air may dislodge debris that couldn't be removed by tweezers.
Benefits of a Glossy Laptop Screen
type="html">
While traditional desktop computers afford users the option of installing a wide variety of monitors, your laptop computer displays its graphical user interface on its built-in screen, one whose size corresponds to that of the computer itself. Among the options you have when you purchase a laptop is the choice between a glossy or matte screen.
Glossy vs Matte Screens
When you order prints of photographs, you have the option to choose between glossy or matte finishing; in other words, photos that either have or lack sheen. Similarly, laptop screens can be either shiny, like the body of a car, or matte, like a piece of paper. If you're unsure as to whether a given laptop screen is glossy or matte, turn the computer off and look into the screen.
Image Depth
Just as is the case when you order glossy photographs, a glossy computer screen results in the images that display on your screen having greater depth, sometimes even appearing to be three-dimensional. Although you may be able to see them in slightly greater detail on a matte screen, the sheen of a glossy screen gives definition to different parts of images, making some appear to come out of the screen, while others appear to sink into it.
Color
Glossy screens make colors seem deeper, richer and more differentiated from one another. To understand why this is, think about a red delicious apple versus a piece of construction paper in the same color. The shiny, wax coating on the apple make it appear to be a brighter, more vivid color. Looking at an image or watching a video on a laptop screen results in an enhanced color experience compared to the same image or video on a matte screen.
Privacy
One complaint some users have about glossy laptop screens is that in certain situations --- bright rooms, for example --- the screen's sheen prevents them from seeing the image on it at all. If you have a glossy laptop screen, remedy this problem by pulling the screen closer to your face so that it comes slightly forward from vertical. This allows you to see your images without any problems.
Types of Cat5e Cables
type="html">
The group of cables surrounding your computer or workstation is most likely composed of category cables, or Cat cables. These cables have various data transmitting capacities, ranging from the minimal traffic to the bandwidth-intensive amount of 100 GbE. Learn to differentiate one from the other so that you can do some minor troubleshooting when you have connection issues.
Identify the Cable
Category 5 cables, nicknamed Cat5, are cable types designed to carry data from one computer center to another. To check what specific type of cable you have in your hands, look at the printed siding, which will indicate the type of category to which your cable is compliant. Category cables have various data transmission limits, starting from 10 MbE (megabit Ethernet) to 1000 GbE (gigabit Ethernet). Category 5 cables deal with the 10 to 1000 MbE range. Cat5 cables are also differentiated by the type of material used to make them, such as the PVC type (emits poisonous smoke while burning) or PLENUM type (more expensive but safer type).
Category 5e for 10 MbE
The Cat5e cables for 10 MbE speed is the entry-level category cable used for data connections that are not that heavy in traffic. For home or small business use, these 10 MbE cables are used to connect one computer to another, or even as replacement for standard telephone wires. This is the most affordable type of Category 5e cable and is best suited for light to medium data traffic use.
Category 5e for 100-1000 MbE
Category 5e cables for speeds of 100 to 1000 MbE are used to connect a computer to a router or to another much larger computer. This type of cable is sometimes called a patch cable and is capable of handling much heavier data traffic than the 10 MbE variety. Cat5e cables also come in LS0H type or the low-smoke, zero-halogen variety is used in public buildings.
Cat5 vs. Cat5e
Category 5 cables are the older versions of the Cat5e. Cat5 cables are only capable of handling up to 100 Mbps data connections, as opposed to the 1000 MbE capacity of Cat5e's. Cat5 cables are up to 100 MHz in operation, while Cat5e can reach up to 350 MHz. Cat6 cables reach the 500 MHz mark quite easily. The materials that make up a Cat5e cable are often times more compliant to safety and fire standards, such as the LS0H type.
Deleting the Master Boot Record on a Partition
type="html">
The Master Boot Record, or MBR, is a small program that runs each time your computer starts up. Sometimes, this program malfunctions and you may need to remove it. Often the best approach is to format the hard disk to remove all remnants of the malfunctioning software. This will remove every software and partition so you will be able to reinstall everything from scratch.
1). Back up all data on your hard disk. You can transfer all files to a portable hard drive. Plug it in and drag all items you want to save into the portable hard drive's folder on the desktop.
2). Restart the computer. Press F12 to access the BIOS setup menu. Change the startup disk so that the computer will start up from a CD next time you start the computer. Look for the "Boot Disk" menu options, hit enter and choose "CD-ROM."
3). Insert a Windows or Mac installation disk, press "ESC" and restart the computer.
4). Delete all existing partitions if you want to have all hard disk space in one batch. Delete the partition that contains the Master Boot Record or create new partitions using the formatting software on the installation disks. Follow the installation software's instructions during the formatting process.
5). Choose NTFS format mode for the partitions as it is a faster and more secure form of formatting.
Transfer All Data From HDD to HDD
type="html">
Computer technology, including the acronyms and jargon that go with it, can confuse most people. Computer technicians used to joke that a PCMCIA card stood for people can't memorize computer industry acronyms. HDD is a bit simpler, as it stands for hard disk drive, as opposed to floppy disk drives or FDDs. Moving data between hard drives is less complicated than remembering the acronyms, though.
1). Find all of your files. Right-click on the "Start" menu and choose "Open Windows Explorer." Right-click on the hard drive and choose "Copy." If this is your Windows operating system hard drive, the files will be copied but you will not be able to run the operating system from the second drive.
2). Move the data to the second hard drive. If the drive is attached to the same computer, you can get to it by selecting the drive in Windows Explorer. If you need to move to another hard drive on another computer, insert a DVD or flash drive, right-click on the attached hard drive or DVD or flash drive and choose "Paste."
3). Put the flash drive or DVD in the second computer if moving to a hard drive on another computer. Select all the files in the DVD or flash drive. Right-click on the files and click "Copy," then select the new hard drive and click "Paste."
Coaxial Cable Types
type="html">
Coaxial cables are cables that consist of two conductors that share an axis. The inner conductor is usually a straight wire; the outer conductor is the wire's shield, which is usually a braided wire or a metal ribbon. It is used primarily for radio and television signal transference. The combination of the center conducting wire and the outer conducting shield keeps other cable noise out and the signal in.
Types
Different types of coaxial cable rated by the U.S. government are designated by the letters RG and then a number. RG stands for "radio grade" and are from when the Army used most of its coaxial cable for radio transmission. The numbers were chosen arbitrarily. The most common RG designations are RG-6, RG-8, RG-11, RG-58, and RG-59. The main difference between them is the impedance. RG-8 and RG-58 have a 50-ohm impedance, while RG-6, RG-11, and RG-59 are 75 ohms.
Impedance
Coaxial cable comes in many different types of impedance. Impedance is the resistance the cable puts on the signal flow. So, 50-ohm coaxial cable is used primarily in radio transmitters because its low resistance is able to handle the high transmitter power. Fifty-ohm cable replaced the 60-ohm version that was used for the same thing in the mid-20th century. Televisions use 75-ohm cables to carry video and audiosignals.
Shield Contruction
The outer conductor, or the shield, of the coaxial cable is constructed in different ways. Flexible, or braided, coaxial cable is a cable that has an outer conductor made from a braided wire shield. One of the drawbacks to this kind of cable is that if the braid isn't weaved tightly enough, a small amount of high-frequency energy can radiate and cause the signal to bleed over into other wiring. Semigrid coaxial cable has a solid tubular outer conductor that contains all the RF energy. Ribbon coaxial cable is the construction of many tiny coaxial cables each wrapped in a foil shield.
Connectors
The right coaxial cable means nothing if they have the wrong connectors. Different connectors work better at different frequencies. Ultra high frequency (UHF) connectors were the standard used before World War II and have a frequency range of 0-300 megahertz (MHz). N connectors, developed after WW II, are the oldest of the high-performance coax connectors and have a frequency range of zero to 11 gigahertz (GHz). A BNC connector has a much narrower frequency range, zero to 4 GHz, than the N connector. The TNC connector is the improved version of the BNC with a frequency range of zero to 11 GHz.
Parts of a Fiber Optic Cable
type="html">
In the early 1980s fiber-optic cables connected most of the major cities in North America. Today fiber-optic cables circle the globe caring voice, video and data signals over these glass fibers. There are many different types of fiber-optic cables dedicated to many different applications, but they all share the same common configuration.
Core
The very center of the fiber-optic cable is a thin piece of glass that provides the path that the light signals follow. This part of a fiber-optic cable is called the core. The core is very small in diameter. Both single-mode and multimode fibers (cores) are 125 microns outside diameter. To put this in perspective, a micron is one 1 millionth of a meter, or 125 microns, and is equal to 0.005 inch.
Cladding
The core is covered or surrounded by optical material. This part of the fiber-optic cable is called the "cladding." Typically the cladding is also made of extremely pure glass just like the core, although there are variations that use plastic. The cladding's job is to surround the core and reflect light signals back into the core. As light signals travel through the core they do not always travel in the direct line but may angle off in many different directions.
Buffer Coating
Surrounding the cladding (which in turn surrounds the core) is the next part of the fiber-optic cable and it is called the buffer coating. The buffer coating does not perform any electrical functions. Its job is to protect the cladding covered core from damage or moisture. Typically the buffer coating is composed of plastic.
Jacket
The outer jacket is the last part of the fiber-optic cable. Sometimes called the outer sheath, this jacket is composed of very tough polyurethane and protects the interior components of the fiber-optic cable. Some fiber-optic cables have an additional part or layer between the outer jacket and the buffer called the Aramid (Kevlar) strength member.
Laptop LCD Inverter
type="html">
All laptops are comprised of numerous parts, but the LCD inverter plays an especially important role. The inverter is one of several key parts within a laptop's display; it helps to illuminate the screen. If an inverter wasn't installed in your laptop, you wouldn't be able to see anything on the display.
Purpose
Normally, a notebook's screen will display windows and other user-controlled elements. But without a backlight, the viewing experience would be similar to looking at a film reel without a projector. The inverter allows for the laptop's display to be lit by providing power to the screen's backlight.
Location
The LCD inverter can usually be found inside some area of the laptop's display. For example, the MacBook's inverter can be found inside the display hinge, while other manufacturers place it along the side of the screen.
Appearance
Compared to the rest of the display, the inverter is a relatively small part. It's a rigid ribbon-like component one to two inches in length and plastic plugs -- which attach to the screen's own wires -- are set on each end.
Cost
As a sub-component of the display, inverters are fairly inexpensive. Since individual laptop components are usually stocked by third-party vendors, prices can vary greatly, depending on the laptop model or store.
Functionality
Within the portion of the display's hardware dedicated to providing power, the inverter converts DC current into AC current. This transition makes it possible for the display to be powered. The small size of most inverters is also beneficial, because it allows for laptops to feature high-quality displays without having to produce a larger chassis.
Farmville Tips and Tricks
type="html">
Game developers Zynga bring you the most popular application on Facebook! Live the rural dream in FarmVille, where you grow delicious fruits and vegetables and raise adorable animals on your very own farm. Alongside your neighbors, plow, plant, and harvest fields with crops such as strawberries, eggplant and artichokes. Earn XP (experience points) and coins to expand your acreage or decorate your farm with trees, fences, ponds, or barns. Work faster with vehicles like tractors, harvesters, and seeders, and rear livestock such as cows, sheep, and pigs. The more you help your neighbors, the faster you’ll level up.
Planting Selective seeds get more coins:
Seed | Cost | Yield | XP gained | Harvests in days |
Soya Beans | 15 | 63 | 2 | 1 |
Grapes | 85 | 270 | 2 | 1 |
Peppermint | 50 | 150 | 1 | 1 |
Whisky Peat | 280 (Free if you are growing the Green House) | 680 | 3 | 1 |
Sun Poppy | 175(You can even get it for free by harvesting neighbor’s Green house) | 455 | 3 | 1 |
Strawberries | 25 | 35 | 1 | 4 Hours |
Eggplant | 25 | 88 | 2 | 2 |
These are some of the plants which will gain more coins in a day’s time.
Useful Tips:
· Fertilize all crops so that they will reap in less time also fertilize other’s fields to get fertilize all power.
· Green House Seeds gain more coins, so do place a greenhouse in your fields and reap green house at no cost on other’s farm.
· Yield Chicken coop and Animal Trough on other’s Farm to get 100 coins each for free. Also some mystery eggs and extra feed sometimes.
By using these seeds we can increase coins in leaps and bounds when the farm is big and the whole farm is sown with these seeds. Farmville works better with Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers and in Windows 7 PC with a good Internet Connection.
Keep in mind that there are times when it's not ideal to purchase seeds that yield the most profit.
For example: If you're going to be at work for 10 hours, it might not be a good idea to purchase seeds that harvest in four hours. It would be a better idea to purchase seeds that harvest in ten hours or twelve.
How to Use Secondary IP Addresses With HSRP
type="html">
Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) is a Cisco proprietary protocol that takes two different devices and makes them into one. Configurations make the interfaces appear as if they are all part of one big "virtual router" with the same default gateway. The configuration provides for redundancy in the case of a failed link, failed port or total switch failure.
1). Decide how many groups that you need. The first group is the primary Internet protocol (IP) on the interface. Any additional IPs are secondary entries and each IP has its own group. This group includes the range of IPs that the hosts will also fall under. The first IP of the range is for the standby IP of the "virtual router" and is passed back and forth between the two switches. The next two IPs are for the interface on each router that will participating in the group. All other IPs in the range belongs to the hosts that are connected to the switch.
2). Identify what IPs you will be using for each group. Dividing (subnetting) IPs to ensure that there is not an IP conflict takes time and math skills. Waiting until the last minute to assign IPs for the maintenance can put you in a crunch for time. Plan on one subnet per group to keep the hosts on their own local area network (LAN). Hosts need one IP address each so be sure to include the three IPs to cover your two interfaces and the virtual router ID. Allocation for the interface is needed to ensure you are not short on host addresses.
3). Configure the new group under the existing interfaces.
Group numbers 0-255 can be used and each interface will support up to 15 different groups. The Group numbers that are used do not have to be in any certain order. You can jump around and skip numbers in between or follow contiguous number schemes but no there is no benefit either way. The rule of only 16 groups applies on a per interface basis and you must reuse the same group numbers on the next interface.
Ways to Save Printer Ink
type="html">
When you purchase a printer for your computer, the price you pay for the device itself is only a fraction of the cost you incur over the life of the device. From time to time, you must replace your printer's ink cartridges. Lessen your ink consumption by developing wise printing habits.
Print Quality
Most printers have the option of printing documents and pictures at various quality levels -- and the lower the print quality, the less ink the printer uses. Except for "final draft" items you need to turn in to a supervisor or instructor at work or school, get into the habit of printing documents at low quality to save on ink.
Page Count
When you print a document, your computer will prompt you to enter the pages of the document you want to print. Look through your document before printing to verify that you need all its pages -- and if you don't, adjust the page range to reflect what you do need. If you print a receipt from a website, for example, the entire document may take up four pages, even though your receipt itself appears entirely within the second page.
Color vs. Black and White
On the whole, color cartridges are more expensive than black and white ones -- and, since color documents print using a combination of ink hues -- these cartridges run out faster with regular use. Even if a document appears in color on your screen, your computer gives you the option to print it in black and white. Unless printing in color is essential to the purpose for which you use your document.
Mobile Documents
With the advent of "smartphone" devices such as the Android, BlackBerry and iPhone, the necessity to print out certain documents at all has lessened. From receipts to emails to -- in some instances -- airline boarding passes, it's possible to pull up full-length documents using the email or Internet feature on your handheld device. This saves not only on ink, but also on paper.
Diagnose a Graphics Card Problem
type="html">
Blank screens, display monitor flickering, squealing noises, incorrect text and monitor display sizes are all signs that require your graphics card settings to be adjusted. Thankfully, you can resolve many of these issues without having to dismantle your computer. By checking the connections and altering the refresh rate and resolution settings, your graphics card diagnosis will lead you to a fast and clearer visual repair.
1). Check the connections from the graphics card and video cable and verify that each one is securely attached if a blank or black screen is displayed. If your computer monitor does not work correctly, go to the next step.
2). Replace cables that have bent or damaged pins in the connector. If your computer monitor does not work correctly, go to the next step.
3). Change your display resolution if the text or monitor display size is incorrect. Click the "Start" button, click the "Control Panel" and then click "Adjust screen resolution" under "Appearance and Personalization."
4). Click the "Resolution" drop-down list and then move the slider to the "Recommended" resolution size for your monitor. Click "Apply." If your computer monitor does not work correctly, go to the next step.
5). Change your refresh rate if the display flickers. Click the "Start" button, click "Control Panel," and then click "Appearance and Personalization."
6). Click "Personalization," click "Display Settings," and then click "Advanced Settings."
7). Click the "Monitor" tab and then check the "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display" if it is not already checked.
8). Click the pull-down list under "Screen refresh rate" and select a new refresh rate. Click "Apply" within 15 seconds after your display illustrates the new changes otherwise the changes will not take affect. If your computer monitor does not work correctly, go to the next step.
9). Visit the graphics card manufacturer's website and update the driver for the graphics card.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)