Hardware Upgrade Tip of the Day #22



*1.   SCAN WITHOUT A PC         
 
Microtek has introduced its MicroDeck scanner, which it calls a 
"stand-alone scanning appliance." The MicroDeck includes a 
built-in 100MB Zip drive, so without any PC attached you can 
scan images directly onto a Zip disk. A scanner like this makes 
a great workgroup tool. Several users can scan images without 
tying up a PC.


*2.   GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR TIPS--PART 1 OF 5          
  
If you plan to play DVD movies on your PC, you may be able to 
save yourself a card slot. ATI Technologies now offers the Rage 
Fury graphics accelerator board. What's new and interesting 
about this product is its inclusion of DVD support. This means 
you don't need a separate DVD decoder board to play back DVD 
movies on your computer. You'll find ATI at  

http://www.atitech.ca


*3. GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR TIPS--PART 2 OF 5          
  
You may have purchased a low-end PC with AGP accelerated 
graphics, but can you really upgrade the system with a newer AGP 
graphics board? Maybe, maybe not. Some PCs have their AGP 
graphics chip hardwired into the motherboard. If there is no AGP 
slot available, you will not be able to upgrade to a newer AGP 
board down the road.


*4. GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR TIPS--PART 3 OF 5           
  
Some graphics cards now include everything but the kitchen sink. 
You'll find cards that offer TV tuner and video capture features 
in addition to the standard 2D and 3D graphics acceleration. 
Many users wonder if the graphics performance suffers in these 
all-in-one cards. Not really--if you demand the very best in 3D 
gaming acceleration, then you may want to stick with a 
high-performance specialized graphics board, but for general 
all-around use, these combination graphics cards are a fairly 
good deal. Plus they save you the card slots you would consume if 
you installed separate boards to perform the additional functions.


*5. COOL FEATURES FOR PROJECTORS--PART 3 OF 3           
  
For traveling, a projector's weight becomes vitally important. 
Look for a projector that weighs under 9 pounds or so including 
the case, cables, and power supply. You're probably already 
carrying a notebook computer, so you'll want the projector unit 
to weigh as little as possible when you take the show 
on the road.

Keep in mind that all these additional features will probably 
cost more money. Decide which features are most important to your 
presentations, then try to find a reasonably priced projector 
that includes them. However, image quality is still the most 
important quality, so get a demonstration of any projector you're 
considering before you buy it.


*6. GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR TIPS--PART 4 OF 5          
  
Intel's recently released NX440LX motherboard has some 
restrictions on the length and height of the AGP graphics 
accelerators it supports. Check into these restrictions when 
upgrading your video. Read more about this topic at 
Intel's Web site  

http://www.intel.com 

and the AGP Forum Web site 

http://www.agpforum.org


*7. GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR TIPS--PART 5 OF 5           
  
Thinking about an upgrade to one of the new LCD flat panel 
displays for your PC? Then don't buy a graphics board before you 
shop for displays. Several of these flat panel products are 
complete solutions that include both a specialized graphics card 
and an LCD display. Shop wisely by first deciding whether you 
want your next display to be an LCD flat panel.


*8. DVD SOUND DETAILS          
  
DVD supports the sophisticated 5.1 channel surround sound called 
Dolby Digital--but what exactly is this technology and how does 
it work? For an in-depth tour through Dolby Digital, browse the 
Dolby Labs Web site at  

http://www.dolby.com


*9. PC SPEAKERS AND OFFICE RADIO IN ONE          
  
Cambridge Soundworks now offers a Model 88 product that does 
double duty as a radio and as a set of PC speakers. Although the 
unit is in one piece, it includes two stereo speakers and a 
subwoofer. There's a wireless remote control as well. The Model 
88 costs $188.


*10. What to Look for in an EIDE Hard Disk

Something to keep in mind when buying an EIDE (Enhanced 
Integrated Drive Electronics) hard disk is the various types of 
disks and their associated interface speeds. Even though they're 
all compatible with IDE, they will only go as fast as your system 
I/O (Input/Output) will support. (If you're not sure, check the 
specifications in your motherboard's manual, or ask your computer 
dealer/manufacturer.) Here's the breakdown with aliases and 
maximum external transfer rates:

ATA-2 (EIDE, Fast ATA) = 16.6MB/sec.
ATA-3 = 16.6MB/sec.
ATA-4 (Ultra ATA, UDMA, Ultra DMA/33) = 33.3MB/sec.
ATA-5 (Ultra ATA/66, Ultra DMA/66) = 66.6MB/sec.

Now to test your EIDE know-how: go to the link below, and click 
one of the model names in the list.  Then click the Specs link at 
the top of the product page to access the vital info. Don't 
forget to read the CNET Says box at the bottom of the product 
page for more valuable advice about what to look for.

http://www.computers.com/product/list
/0%2C3%2C0-18-1073-d-1-6_3%2C00.html?tag=dd.co.txt.0428.25
