Clarence Computer Corner

Core Turbo Boost

2010-04-12T10:51:00.003+10:00

Advances in computer performance continue with the latest processors from Intel, the company behind the brain in most PCs since 1981. These are called Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7, and provide at least double the processing power of the previous Core 2 series.

In the new range, the Core i3 is the most affordable and is very good value. It is dual-core, meaning that it can do two tasks at the same time in parallel. A new feature of this processor is integrated high-definition graphics, meaning all graphics processing is performed within the main processor itself, which is normally performed by a separate chip or video card in the computer. This improves the efficiency of general purpose and multimedia computers. The processor is capable of high-definition video and dual monitors, but advanced gaming still requires a separate video card.

The Core i5 processors are faster again, and also introduce a new feature called Turbo Boost. This feature boosts the speed of busy processing cores, while keeping electrical power and heat output constant by reducing the speed of idle cores. Most software programs used today can only be processed by one core (single-threaded) so Turbo Boost can significantly improve the performance of these programs. The Core i5 processor range includes dual-core (with integrated HD graphics) or quad-core processors.

At the high-end, there is the Core i7 processor range. These are all quad-core, with higher clock-speeds and hyper-threading (not present in the Core i5 quad-core processor). Hyper-threading (also present in Core i3 & i5 dual-core processors) is a technology Intel has used since the later Pentium 4 products. This feature was the precursor to multiple-cores and allows a processing core to process two tasks at the same time under certain circumstances (only tasks of certain types can be processed in parallel).

The recommendation for general-purpose and home-theatre computers is the Core i5 dual-core, being relatively affordable, having high-definition graphics and Turbo Boost for high performance of everyday programs. The Core i5, paired with a good video card, is also a good choice for gaming as the Turbo Boost will kick in for most games. The Core i3 is also a good choice for general use and multimedia, being very affordable and efficient.

The Core i7, and quad-core processors in the Core i5 range, are recommended for people wanting the absolute best performance, especially for advanced photo and video processing. These types of tasks make use of multiple cores and faster performance reduces wait times. These processors are also excellent for hard-core gaming, especially the Core i7 with Turbo Boost.

The previous generation of Intel processors released last year (Pentium Dual Core, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad) are still available and have quite good performance. These may be a good buy if discounted.

See this chart comparing the latest Intel processors.

Kiva

2010-02-27T10:15:00.001+11:00

The internet is a global information exchange, allowing communication between people from all corners of the globe. Business and trade can be conducted globally with ease. You can even give donations to the needy via internet-aware charity organisations such as World Vision.

A new approach to alleviating poverty has been growing in importance in recent years: micro-lending. This is the practice of lending small sums of money to a poor person so they can start or expand a small business to improve their income. Typically this is done by aid organisations in poverty-stricken countries. The money is repaid by the “entrepreneurs” and organisations report that loan default rates are lower than in the ordinary banking industry.

The web site kiva.org has taken this idea one step further. They connect lenders in relatively well-off circumstances, such as many Australians, to “entrepreneurs” in poverty-stricken countries. People seeking loans are listed along with a photo, their reason for the loan, and the total amount required. You can simply click Lend and contribute $25 to their loan. From then on, Kiva keeps track of the loan and when it’s repaid, the $25 is credited back to your Kiva account. After that you can lend that $25 out to someone again, or withdraw the money.

The benefits of this idea are many. You get to directly choose who gets your financial assistance, the photo and description of their activity creates a personal connection of a kind. The loans requested are only small (usually $100 to $1000) and each lender need only lend $25 to make up the loan amount. Many people in western countries can afford to be without $25 for a period of time without impacting our lifestyles, and the loan will eventually be repaid. Small sums go a long way for one person in an undeveloped country. Note that funds are taken in US dollars, all the more reason to lend now while the AU dollar is strong!

If you like the idea, click onto www.kiva.org and start browsing. You only need to register if you decide to lend. I have created a Lending Team called “Clarence” so if you decide to lend, make sure you select team Clarence and we can keep track of the efforts made by our community.

Ken Finlayson

Windows 7 is Here!

2010-02-27T10:13:00.000+11:00

Microsoft’s last version of Windows, Vista, has had a mixed response from computer users: too slow on low-end or older computers, not compatible with many programs and devices, too many annoying prompts to confirm actions, and other mostly minor gripes.
Now for the good news: Microsoft has just released Vista’s replacement. The next operating system from Microsoft is called Windows 7, which is the 7th version of the Windows product-line that started with Windows 1.0 in 1985 (although not widely used until Windows 3.0 released in 1990).

Windows 7 builds on the new Vista look and feel, addresses issues that users have with Vista, and adds some new features. Most importantly, performance is improved on lower-powered computers. Windows 7 can run on just about any computer with 1GB memory or more, including mini netbooks. I would recommend 2GB, the same as for Vista, but Windows 7 should run faster than Vista.

Microsoft has also kept compatibility in mind when building the new release. All programs that run on Vista will run on 7, apart from some hardware drivers which should be updated by the hardware manufacturers (hopefully much more quickly than they did for Vista). The Professional edition of Windows 7 also features and advanced “XP Mode” for running older programs that require Windows XP.
Vista’s annoying User Account Control feature (security prompts to confirm actions) has been improved in Windows 7. The UAC prompts are now rare while still providing protection. This is one great feature you’ll hopefully see less of!

New features include Libraries in Windows Explorer for managing music, pictures and videos. This is a similar concept to the library in Windows Media Player but it’s now part of the standard Windows Explorer screens. Many other features of Windows have been enhanced, and some new features added. Even Calculator, Paint and WordPad have been substantially improved in Windows 7.

When choosing Windows 7, consider taking the option of 64-bit. Nowadays, 4GB of RAM is very common but 32-bit Windows cannot use more than about 3GB. With 64-bit Windows 7, the rest of the 4GB is fully available and even more can be added (up to 8GB in most computers, more in new ones). Just keep in mind that 64-bit Windows 7 drivers will be required for your devices (e.g. printers).

The new functionality in Windows 7 is an incremental improvement over Vista, but not revolutionary. However, since many users still have Windows XP, the improvement for them is substantial. The jump to 64-bit for extra performance is also a bonus. Windows 7 is definitely recommended for your next PC, and it may even be worth upgrading your current one to 7. Additionally, Windows XP is still available on computers from good computer shops, for those XP die-hards!

Windows 7

2009-06-19T10:52:00.001+10:00

Microsoft’s current version of Windows, Vista, has had a mixed response from computer users: too slow on low-end or older computers, not compatible with many programs and devices, too many annoying prompts to confirm actions, and other mostly minor gripes.

Now for the good news: Microsoft is due to release Vista’s replacement by the end of the year. The next operating system from Microsoft is called Windows 7, which is the 7th version of the Windows product-line that started with Windows 1.0 in 1985 (although not widely used until Windows 3.0 released in 1990).

Now for the even better news: Microsoft had made Windows 7 RC (Release Candidate) available for download with a free license for use until at least March 2010. So the more advanced computer users amongst us can download and install Windows 7 today. Even though the RC is not the final version it’s very stable and has virtually all the functions that the final release will have.

Windows 7 builds on the new Vista look and feel, addresses issues that users have with Vista, and adds some new features. Most importantly, performance is improved on lower-powered computers. Windows 7 can run on just about any computer with 1GB memory or more, including mini netbooks. I would recommend 2GB, the same as for Vista, but Windows 7 should run faster than Vista.

Microsoft has also kept compatibility in mind when building the new release. All programs that run on Vista will run on 7, apart from some hardware drivers which should be updated by the hardware manufacturers (hopefully much more quickly than they did for Vista). The Professional edition of Windows 7 will also feature “XP Mode” to run older programs that require Windows XP.

Vista’s annoying User Account Control feature (security prompts to confirm actions) has been improved in Windows 7. The UAC prompts are now rare while still providing protection. This is one great feature you’ll hopefully see less of!

New features include Libaries in Windows Explorer for managing music, pictures and videos. This is a similar concept to the library in Windows Media Player but it’s now part of the standard Windows Explorer screens. Many other features of Windows have been enhanced, and some new features added. Even Calculator, Paint and Wordpad have been substantially improved in Windows 7.

The new functionality in Windows 7 is an incremental improvement over Vista, but not revolutionary. However, since many users still have Windows XP, the improvement for them is substantial. Windows 7 is definitely recommended for your next PC, and it may even be worth upgrading your current one to 7.

Originally published in Clarence Valley Lifestyle (June 2009)

To Vista or not to Vista, that is the question...

2008-03-10T17:19:00.001+11:00

Last year Microsoft released the successor to Windows XP, called Windows Vista. Should you upgrade to Vista? Do you have any choice?

There are some exciting new features in Vista. The most obvious change is in the look of the icons, menus and other visual elements – in other words it looks more exciting. Apart from that, useful new features are: better handling of photos and music files; restore a previous version of almost any file; user-friendly backup (in Vista Business and Vista Ultimate only); and Media Centre with optional remote control (in Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate only). Regardless of whether we need it, though, Vista will eventually replace XP to become the most common version of Windows.

So why resist the change? The first reason would be hardware requirements. I’d recommend at least 1 gigabyte of memory and at least a late-model Pentium 4 or Athlon processor. And to experience the exciting new visual aspects of Vista, an up-to-date video card is also required. Even many new computers perform badly with Vista.

Another issue with Vista is compatibility with older software and devices. Any printer or scanner older than a year, for example, may not work with Vista.

The good news is, new computers with Windows XP are still available and probably will be for some time. Some laptops even come with both Vista and XP disks. The choice is yours. In some cases it’s better to stick with “the devil you know”.

Originally published in "Clarence Valley Lifestyle" October 2007

A Blog for Clarence Valley Computer Users

2008-03-10T16:03:00.003+11:00

I've created this blog for computer users in the Clarence Valley area to share ideas and info. From time to time I will post articles, and people can comment or ask questions.

Having a local discussion group should keep it more friendly - some of us will already know each other, or maybe we soon will!

Regards,
Ken Finlayson
Lower Clarence Computers