Duplex simply means that the communications device enables users to talk to someone in another location and the person in the other location to respond to the user via the same type of device. As an example, when someone makes a telephone call, he/she is engaging in a duplex procedure. The same is true when voice to voice communication is done via a computer. Examples of Half Duplex Devices and How They Work In contrast, a half duplex enables only one party to speak at a time. The best example Read More

Read-Only Memory or ROM is an integrated-circuit memory chip that contains configuration data. ROM is commonly called firmware because its programming is fully embedded into the ROM chip. As such, ROM is a hardware and software in one. Because data is fully incorporated at the ROM chip's manufacture, data stored can neither be erased nor replaced. This means permanent and secure data storage. However, if a mistake is made in manufacture, a ROM chip becomes unusable. The most expensive stage of ROM manufacture, therefore, is creating the template. If a Read More

A differential backup is a backup of every file on a file system which has changed since the last full backup. The alternatives to a differential backup are incremental backup and full backup. A differential backup can be an optimal middle-ground between a full backup and an incremental backup. A differential backup is not as fast as an incremental backup, but it is faster than a full backup. A differential backup requires more storage space than an incremental backup, but less than a full backup. A differential backup requires more Read More

An LCD or Liquid Crystal Display is a flat, thin display device consisting of any number of pixels aligned in front of a reflector or source of light. The LCD has been widely hailed as a prized invention as it is relatively cheap and it consumes less power to function than competing techologies, making it almost indespensable in battery powered electronic devices. Types of LCDs LCDs are broadly classified as either transmissive or reflective, depending upon the position of their source of light. A transmissive LCD is illuminated by a Read More

Socket-603 is a 603-contact CPU socket used by some Intel Xeon processors. Socket-603 supports a 400MHz Front Side Bus. The Socket-604 supports a 533Mhz Front Side Bus (FSB). The Socket-603 is a Pin Grid Array (PGA) Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket. A ZIF socket features a lever on one side of the socket. When this lever is pulled up, the spring contacts inside the socket are opened. This allows the CPU to be inserted easily into the socket. The lever is then pushed down, closing the spring contacts and clamping Read More

Computer caches are memory circuits that serve to speed up a much larger memory drive. In a typical computer it takes the microprocessor 60 nanoseconds to access the RAM. To cut the time it takes for the microprocessor to access data from the RAM, a special memory bank or memory circuit is installed into the motherboard itself. This is called an L2 cache and it can deliver the needed data in 30 nanoseconds, which is half the speed of the main memory. Caches are small memory banks that serve to Read More

The following are some of the steps you can take when troubleshooting a slow PC. If these don’t work, ask a technician to look for other potential issues or problems. Mechanical Issues One thing most people forget is that a computer is still a collection of mechanical parts. When these malfunction, they slow down a PC’s performance. Overheating. Check the computer’s cooling fan; it may be clogged or malfunctioning which may lead to overheating of the processor. Check for obstruction of fan and ventilation slots. Your computer technician may be Read More

A SODIMM (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module) is a series of small DIMM chips that is specifically designed to fit into smaller working environments such as mobile devices and notebook computers. SODIMMs are designed to be smaller than regular DIMMs due to space restrictions, but provide the same processing capabilities. Both SODIMMs and regular DIMMs are simply a collection of RAM chips that provide memory management functions to personal computers, servers, and other workstations.   How SODIMM Works SODIMM provides memory management to the small processors found in mobile Read More

Occasionally, one or more sectors on an otherwise good hard drive will go bad. When this happens, the data in those sectors may be lost, but the data on the rest of the disk will be unaffected and the disk is still completely usable. Those bad sectors cannot be repaired, but they can be marked as unusable. Once marked as unusable, the Operating System will know not to attempt to store data in those bad sectors. The total disk capacity will be decreased by the amount of storage space in Read More

Home audio recording software has quite a few applications. You can create historical audio records of events, create audio versions of documents that you need for projects, and even just have fun. Here are a few examples of home audio recording software that you can download and enjoy with for no cost. Multichannel Recording Software You may want to record programs from your favorite Internet radio program, or set up a message center on your hard drive for your Internet phone account. What you need is a multi-channel voice recorder Read More