Application Software Examples

A collection of computer programs along with required data is known as a computer software, commonly known as 'software'. The computer programs are commands, which instruct the computer about the steps it has to take to complete a particular task. Sometimes a narrower term may be used to refer to computer software, it is the application software. There are many types of computer software like testware, firmware, system software, middleware, etc.

An application software helps the user execute either a single or a multitude of tasks. The different types of application software include database software, multimedia software, word processing software, etc. These software manipulate text, graphics, etc. Some of these software are dedicated only to one type of tasks, while there are others who do a multitude of tasks.

Types of Application Software
A number of applications put together make an application software. These applications have common features, functions and have common user interface. These applications are able to interact with each other and work in tandem.

Enterprise resource planning software: These software are of help in taking care of the different organizational needs. They are often used in large business setup.

Content access software: It is used for accessing different kind of content without making any changes to it. An exception in this kind of software is the software used for editing the content itself. The content access software are useful for people in the field of digital content.

Educational software: These software are made according to the need of the students and the educators. Some of the activities included in these software are mock tests, assignments, progress tracking, etc.

Collaborative software: These are often Internet-based software, which often involve the use of more than 1 person.

Enterprise infrastructure software: It supports the software systems in an organization. Normally, the different databases, email servers, etc., are included under this category.

Media development software: These software are used by people in both the print and the digital software. They can also be used in educational institutions along with commercial setups.

Examples

Application Suite
Microsoft Office, iWork, Open Office, etc. are examples of application suite, as they come bundled with a number of applications like word processor, spreadsheet, etc.

Enterprise Resource Software
There are different kinds of software, that come under the category of enterprise resource software. The examples of these software are customer relationship management software, financial software, medical billing software, departmental software, time management software, IT Helpdesk software, church management software, manufacturing software, etc.

Content Access Software
Most of us have certainly used these kinds of software. You may not agree now, but when I tell you the names of the software under this category, you will certainly agree. As a matter of fact, you are currently using one of it. It is the Web Browser. The other examples are media players, help browsers, etc.

Educational Software
The most commonly used educational software are the learning management software, training software, reference software (like encyclopedia, etc.), language learning software. Classroom management software are made with the tutor in mind.

Collaborative Software
The examples of collaborative software are the emails, blogs, Wikipedia, etc.

Enterprise Infrastructure Software
The different database management software, document management software, workflow management software, digital asset management software, project management software, property management software, etc. are all included in the enterprise infrastructure software.

Media Development Software
Animation software, desktop publishing software, HTML editing software, etc., are some of the media development software.

It has become evident that these software have simplified a number of tasks for a customer. At the same time, from these examples of application software we can see that these software have been helpful for harnessing the computing power to complete numerous individual or organizational tasks. The application software interacting with number of users has also become easier, which has paved the way for revolution in the field of communication.

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Open Source Software Examples

There are three major types of software - Programming Software, Systems Software and Application Software. Of the three, the latter two come in two broad classifications - open source and closed source. There are many different types of application software which are open source and most of us regularly download and use them on our PC/laptop, such as VLC. In this Buzzle article, we will take a look at some popular and highly recommended open source software examples for different types of operating systems.

An open source computer software is either a systems software or an application software that is available freely in the form of source codes and the users are permitted, under the software license, to study, modify and improve the software. The Open Source Initiative has set certain parameters to determine whether a software license renders the software open source or not. These parameters are very specific and are as laid down below. In order to be considered Open Source, a software must qualify on all of these parameters.

Parameter	Elaboration
Free Redistribution	The software license does not restrict anyone from selling or giving away the software as part of a software package which contains programs from various other sources. The license also should not require any royalty or fee for such sale or passing over of the software.
Source Code	The program should essentially contain source code and the distribution should be permitted in source code as well as compiled form. If the source code is not provided free, the means of obtaining it should be well publicized and should not cost more than a reasonable charge, though the preferred mode of obtaining such code should be free downloading via the Internet. Deliberate obfuscation of source code is not permitted and outputs of processors and translators are against the rule.
Derived Works	The software license must permit modifications to the source code and the distribution of such derived work must be allowed to be distributed under the same terms as the original software license.
Integrity of Author's Source Code	Distribution of source code in modified form can be restricted by the license only if the license necessitates distribution of patch files with the source code for modification of the program at the time of writing it. In such case, the license must be explicit in allowing distribution of software which is developed from modified source code and may require derived works to be known by a different name or version number from the original.
No Discrimination of Persons or Groups	There should be no discrimination, whatsoever, by the license against any person or user group. What is made available to one must be made available to everyone else.
No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor	There should be no restriction on the use of the software for any field of work. If it is free for business use, it must also be free for use in lab researches.
Distribution of License	The rights to the program should apply to everyone, to whom the program is redistributed without any necessity for applying for additional license by such parties.
License Must Not be Specific to a Product	The rights attached to the program must not be specific to the software of which it is a part. Even if the program is extracted from that particular software package and used elsewhere within the program's license terms, the user of such an isolated program would have the same rights as he would have had on using the program along with the original software distribution.
License Must Not Restrict Other Software	There should be no restriction on any other software that is distributed along with the licensed software. The other software may or may not be open sourced but that should not put any restrictions on their distribution on the same medium as the open source one.
License Must be Technology Neutral	No part of the license should weigh upon any particular technology or interface style.

VLC, Mozilla Firefox and MySQL are prominent software examples which are open source. Linux and Ubuntu are prominent examples of open source operating systems. Let us browse through some examples for two major operating systems - Windows and Mac.

Popular Open Source Software for Windows

• Firefox ~ web browsing
• Miro ~ video player, bittorrent, pod casting
• Pidgin ~ instant messaging
• Miro Video Converter ~ convert any video to mp4 or theora
• SkipScreen ~ skip unnecessary clicks and waiting time on media sharing sites such as zShare
• Thunderbird ~ e-mail
• RSSOwl ~ cross platform RSS client
• Cabos ~ easy peer-to-peer file sharing
• Gnucleus ~ Gnutella search and file sharing software
• VLC ~ plays Quicktime, AVI, DIVX, OGG and many other video/audio formats
• Media Player Classic ~ plays lots of media formats
• Open Office ~ word processing and spreadsheet functions aka MS Office
• AbiWord ~ word processing
• Juice ~ great pod casting client
• Handbrake ~ convert/rip DVD to MPEG-4 format, one of the best DVD ripping software
• Audacity ~ sound recording software
• Gipm ~ graphics editing aka Photoshop
• Paint.net ~ similar to Gimp
• Inkscape ~ application for vector graphics
• Filezilla ~ FTP application
• X-Chat2 ~ IRC client
• PealZip ~ extracting and archiving functions
• ZScreen ~ open source application for screen-capture functions
• Launchy ~ open source program launcher that works on keystrokes
• AutoHotkey ~ open source short-cut creator which enables you to create keyboard shortcuts for just about any task that is of repetitive nature

Notable Open Source Software for Mac

• Mozilla Firefox ~ web browsing
• Miro ~ video playing, bittorrent, pod casting
• Audium ~ instant messaging
• Miro Video Converter ~ convert any video to mp4 or theora
• Vienna ~ RSS client
• Mozilla Thunderbird ~ e-mail
• SolarSeek ~ file sharing client
• Q Emulator ~ running Windows on Mac
• Perian ~ plugin allowing quicktime for playing additional media formats
• VLC ~ plays Quicktime, AVI, DIVX, OGG and many other video/audio formats
• iPodDisk ~ iPod ripping
• Burn ~ CD/DVD burner
• Vidalia ~ user anonymity on the web
• Bean ~ word processor
• KisMac ~ wireless scanning on Mac
• Xee ~ fast image browsing and viewing
• Scribus ~ DTP application
• Cyberduck ~ great FTP program
• Colloquy ~ IRC client
• NVU ~ visual web designing and development software
• Gipm ~ graphics editing aka Photoshop
• Audacity ~ sound recording software
• Camino ~ web browsing
• OpenProj ~ open source project management application
• jEdit ~ open source text editing software, especially useful for programmers
• Stellarium ~ Open source 3D planetarium application

Most of these open source applications, as you can discern, are equally popular to Mac as well as Windows. The biggest advantages of open source computer software are their ease to penetrate the market without the companies offering them requiring to sweat over promoting them and providing a sense of empowerment and flexibility to users and developers. The greatest disadvantages are argued to be their being in a perennially developmental stage and the ignorance of system testing and documentation. This point of concern may be true in case of very small software projects but holds no water for larger, more successful projects which risk no such negligence and their software are well-defined and subject to rules regarding testing of modifications and documentation. Before downloading though, get thoroughly informed about free software download pros and cons to be on the safer side if you are downloading software from some obscure site.

We all have, sometime or the other, used and benefited from some of the best open source software available on the web. Most of you must be familiar with the aforementioned examples and know some of these to be the best things to have happened to web browsing, instant messaging, pod casting, media playing, photo editing and much more - the scopes are unlimited! Download these wicked open source applications and open yourself to more variety and computing convenience. Happy installing!

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Computer Software Utilities

Software

Computer software is generally divided into two primary categories such as system software and application software. System software is related to computer programs which are intended to work with computer hardware and provide a working base for application software to run. On the other hand, application software are programs which enable users to carry out specific tasks like record keeping, image creation, video editing, playing media files, and other entertainment requirements. One of the most prominent system software are computer software utilities, also referred to as just 'utilities' or 'tools'.

Computer utilities software are believed to be a part of system software whose main purpose is to ensure proper functioning of the system. These software help in efficient functioning of the hardware, computer operating system, data storage facilities, and third-party application software packages. As they majorly focus on maintenance of the computer, they can be complicated to deal with. Normally, computer operating systems, by default, come with several of these utilities.

Different Software Utilities

Disk Compression Utilities
Disk compression tools do the job of compressing or decompressing data on the drive, so that there is more space available for additional data to be stored. Few of the most popular independent disk compression tools include DoubleDisk Gold, XtraDrive, Stacker, DiskDoubler, and SuperStor Pro.

Disk Checkers and Cleaners
These helpful utilities check the hard drive for any damaged or unnecessary files, and delete them for efficient hard disk functioning. These tools are good for increasing the speed of a slow computer. Few of the most commonly used utilities are CHKDSK, Disk Checker, ADRC Hard Disk Checker, and similar ones.

System Profilers
System profiles are responsible for providing the user with clear information about the applications installed and hardware devices connected to the system. Few of such good applications are CPU Speed Pro, SekChek Local, Sisoft SANDRA, Lavalys EVEREST Ultimate Edition, Belarc, HwiNFO32, etc.

Antivirus Software
There are many antivirus software available for purchase in the market, and even some free versions for downloads. Some good virus removal software are Symantec Norton AntiVirus, Ad-Aware Pro, ESET NOD32, McAfee VirusScan, and Windows Live OneCare, just to name a few.

Backup Utilities
As the name suggests, these data backup tools are used to copy all information and provide it when required, such as in case of disk failure or corruption. Good examples of software options are Windows Home Server Computer Backup, Norton Ghost, Backup Exec, NetBackup, IBM Tivoli Storage Manager, and EMC Legato NetWorker.

Disk Partitioning Tools
These applications help the user to divide the hard drive into partitions, which can lead to effective data management. The main advantage of disk partitioning is that it prevents anyone from accidental or purposeful modification of system files. Good computer software examples can be Microsoft fdisk, Logical Disk Manager, Partition Master, and Maxblast.

Network Utilities
These are minor system tools which allow the user to determine several aspects of a connected network. These simple utilities are initiated to check if the network is connected, router is working, and similar other technical details. Some simple commands to start network utilities are ping, ipconfig, traceroute, nslookup, spray, route, and so on.

These are some of the basic computer software utilities used in computing. Remember that software utilities will only enhance the performance of a computer, and will not help you to play around with media and entertainment resources like video, PC games, songs, etc. Also note that some good and useful utilities are already available with the operating system itself.

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Types of System Software

To begin with, let's understand what a system software is. System software is the backbone of a computer. While on one hand it regulates the operation of the computer hardware to perform the necessary user-oriented functions, it also provides the basic framework to enable smooth running of the various application software on the other hand. To put it simply, a system software is the basic platform upon which the computer runs its hardware and enables the user to derive full computing functionality of the various application software and get his work done. Now, speaking of the types of system software, there are four basic categories under which system software can be classified. These are:-

• The Basic Input Output System (BIOS) or boot loader which defines the firmware interface and loads the OS;
• The device firmware that controls the operation and performance of the computer hardware;
• The operating system (OS) which allows the user to interact with the hardware and get the desired outcome by carrying data between RAM and storage disks, displaying the desired result on the output device (monitor/LCD) and by acting as the platform to allow various other system and application software to run on the computing device;
• Various utility software that regulate the computer functionality by analyzing its performance, configuring and optimizing its processes and, thereby, carrying out system maintenance functions.

Different Types of System Software Programs

A system software is a collection of software programs that enable the user to interact with the computing device without getting lost among the complexities of technical interactions between mechanical parts and machine-oriented codified programs. These programs are the building blocks that construct the entire system software architecture including the parts that regulate input/output functions, those that provide application software platforms and the various different types of operating system software component programs. Let's take a look at some basic system software programs that form the building blocks of the desired user-functionalities of a computing device.

Boot Firmware: Also known as boot loaders these programs are the first ones to run when a PC is started. A boot loader loads and runs the main operating system on the computer when it starts. This system software component is also known as BIOS on IBM compatible computing devices.

Database Management Systems: This is a set of programs that manage and regulate the user database right from creation to maintenance and extending to the use of such database. The DBMS is responsible for allowing different user applications to access a single database at the same time. This set of programs is what lies at the base of all computer network models that enable users to retrieve data from an integrated collection in a structured manner and does away with the user having to write complex programs in machine language to extract information from the data pool.

Output Interface: This program determines whether the desktop environment will be in the form of a character user interface (CUI as seen on DOS and older OS versions) or if it will be in the form of a graphical user interface (GUI as seen from latest OS, a norm made common by Windows). Also, besides determining the desktop environment, these programs also provide various options that allow the user to access other features of the OS from the desktop.

Virtual Machine Monitors: Also known as hypervisors, these programs allow multiple operating systems to run on a single host computer system simultaneously. These other computer systems that access the host are known as guests and the host is able to allow multiple operating systems to run simultaneously under the hardware virtualization process.

Link Editors: Commonly known as linkers, link editors collect multiple object files that the compiler programs, generate and put them together as an executable program which is capable of performing desired tasks as instructed by codified instructions.

Loaders: A loader is an inbuilt component of the operating system that loads programs onto the computer memory and makes them ready for execution. This process involves loading the program text from the executable file onto the computer memory and preparing the executable file to run. This is one of the various initial stages involved in running any program on the operating system.

Shell: Shells are programs that make the interaction between the kernel of the OS and the user possible. It is the outer layer of a computing interface that makes information interchange between the OS and the user possible.

Utility Software: These programs offer the various maintenance and performance evaluation utility tools to configure and optimize the various processes that influence the performance of your computer. Disk cleaners, anti-virus software, data compression programs, disk drive partition utilities, storage, backup and archiving programs are some of the common examples of utility software.

I am sure this brief discussion of the various types of system software and the different kinds of software programs helped clarify a few things regarding the basic software/program architecture of a standard computing system. System software consists of those basic sets of programs that are essential for a computing device to run the most elementary function - establish interaction between the user and the device so as to make exchange of instructions and outputs possible. Also, various system software components also make sure that the computer system is kept under such a condition that this elementary function can be carried out without any sort of disruption.

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Computer Software Examples

Software is a collection of programs that helps you communicate with the hardware of the computer. There are different types of computer software for different purposes. In learning about computers, the first step usually, is to understand the major types of software, their uses, and applications. In the following article, I have made a list of computer software categorized by their types.

Examples of Computer Software

Just listing them all will only make a mess, so I have categorized the examples based on the different types of software. Take a look.

System Software
System software coordinates the complete system hardware and provides an environment or platform for all the other types of software to work in. It is a collection of software like operating system (System software Examples - Microsoft Windows XP, Mac OS, Linux, Windows Vista, Ubuntu etc), device drivers and utilities. There are many types of operating systems for different purposes.

Application Software
Application software is the software that helps the user perform the tasks of his choice. The various application software examples are MS Office, Openoffice, Media Player, MS Access etc. Educational software, media development software, antivirus software, etc. are the different types of software applications.

Programming Software
Programming software is used to write other software programs and applications. The various programming language editors, like Eclipse- a java language editor, come under this category. The various examples of programming software are Turbo C, Xilinx, Assembler 805, MySQL etc. Compilers, debuggers, Integrated Development Environment (IDE), etc. are the types of programming software. You can go through this list of programming languages to know more.

Others

Apart from the above major types of software there are many others like -

Shareware- Shareware is usually software that is distributed for free on a trial basis. It can be shared without violation of any laws. Hence the name. Examples Bearshare, Kazaa, etc.

Registry Cleaners- When you install a lot of software, games, etc. your registry gets clogged. Registry cleaners are used to clean up or delete all the invalid registry entries. This speeds up your computer. Examples- TuneUp Utilities, Eusing, etc.

Content Control Software- This software allows you to control the content that can be accessed by a user on a computer. There are content control applications for internet browsers too. Example- Parental control software, etc.

Project Management Software- As its name suggests, project management software is a software package that helps many users to work on a project simultaneously. You can schedule events, network with the other users, allocate resources, etc. with the help of a project management software. Example- Microsoft Office Project server, Mac Project, Hyper Office, 24 seven Office, etc.

Utility Software- It is used for the management of computer hardware and application software installed on a computer. Also known as service routines, they are usually small programs that help you manage your computer better. Example- Disk Fragmentors, Disk cleaners, etc.

Open Source Software- This is a type of software whose source code is open. That is anyone can make changes to it and release their own version of it. Example- Android OS, OpenOffice, etc. There are more open source software examples that you can check out.

Browsers- Browsers are software that let you surf or browse the Internet. Example- Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, etc.

This is only an overview of the computer software. Everyday, new types of software are being invented and the list of their examples can go on and on. Hence have given only a gist of the scenario.

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AMD Vs. Intel Processors

The central processing unit (CPU) is to computers what brain is to human beings. If the CPU does not   function properly, a 22 inch LCD monitor would be absolutely futile. The point, therefore, is that there is no use of 'beauty without brains'! Jokes apart, though, in computers, the processor is what you pay for the most, and then the other things follow suit. Talking of processors, Intel and AMD processors are the ones selling like hot cakes in the market. Which one is better depends on what kind of a computer setup you are looking for. For now, let's take a look at the following comparison - AMD processors vs. Intel Processors.

The Comparison

Intel
Intel is undoubtedly the best processor on the face of this earth. You just cannot imagine a computer without an Intel processor! Although there were a few hiccups in between with the Pentium 4, the core series has got them back right on track. The latest chipset by Intel, the 'Xeon', is a dual core processor which boosts computer performance for business applications. If you purchase a P4 3.4 GHZ with HT Technology or a Xeon Processor you will spend between $4 and $1200 on an average. Intel, synonymous with processors, almost has a faster processor, which can handle much more. These processors have always been top-notch, when it comes to main clock speed. Moreover, the need for a front side bus has been totally bypassed by Intel chips.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
Advanced Micro Devices' AMD Turion and Athlon are giving a tough fight to Intel. Starting off by making chips exactly like Intel's, AMD, later on, started developing their own microprocessor chips. AMD processors have good power, only if you are looking at gaming and stuff, but nothing more. However, AMD wins hands down when it comes to the price element. Moreover, AMD has worked a lot on the power consumption and heating factor of its processors, and as of now, AMD's Phenom is doing pretty well in the market.

Gaming

Many people also want to know is which one is good for gaming. Well, many a time, the gamers have given a nod to AMD processors. First things first, AMD is good when it comes to power, but that's that, for gaming. Yes, you save money and you can use the same to upgrade your system with a new graphics card. However, if you are not the kind who would be hooked on to games forever, Intel is the way to go (It almost always is, isn't it?). Even AMD's fastest processor, the Phenom II processor series, comes second when compared to equivalent systems packing a Core 2 Duo E8500 in dual-core friendly games. Eventually, it is up to you to decide who is the winner in AMD vs. Intel processors, based on what you want to do.

Laptops

When you are looking to compare the 2 processors for laptops, core clock speed is the first thing to consider. Intel is way ahead of AMD in that respect. When it comes to front side bus, which enhances the communication between multiple processing cores, Intel and AMD both are at par, nearly. Moving onto the features of, let's say AMD Turion, it has several features in its dual core technology. To name a few, these are cool core and power now which work on the issues of increased power consumption and reduced generation of heat. Intel's Core 2 Duo and other high-end processors are much more efficient and are faster, which works for laptop computers. This is one of the most important aspects to look for when buying a laptop.

Last but not the least, the heat generation factor and cost hold special importance in deciding between both the processors. It is better to fully inquire about how do the processors deal with the problem, though both of them have improved greatly in this department. When it comes to price, AMD may have an advantage over Intel, as they are cheaper. Again, it depends on what is going to be the end usage, and which one will be a preferred choice.

Some of the reviews may be a bit biased towards Intel, but that is crystal clear considering that Intel, by far, seems to be the best when it comes to processors, even if they are a bit expensive. You win some you lose some, right? Eventually it is not possible to write off either one in any department, unless you know what you want and what you are looking for.

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Best Computer Processor

While buying a new personal computer, which is the one thing that matters above anything else? It's the computer's central processing unit (CPU) or processor. Silicon based chips are the brains of a computer that control every single one of its functions. The choice of processor decides the speed of computing and its multitasking ability. If you are planning to buy a new desktop or laptop computer, you would want to know which is the best processor to buy in the market.
 

Every computer chip today is a piece of silicon etched at nanometer (10^-9 m) scales to form billions of transistors that together constitute the central processing unit of a computer. Today chip manufacturers have reached a limit in terms of the number of transistors that can be etched on a silicon chip and have instead opted for multicore chips. There are two, four or six chips that form a computer processor today, by working in coordination. This multicore design has helped chip makers like Intel to surpass the clocking frequency barrier and create faster chips.

Best Processors On the Market

The things that you look for in a computer processor are high speed of computing (represented by a high clocking frequency), multitasking, ability to handle intensive 3D graphics, larger cache size (which grants more working memory) and of course reasonable cost. The best processor chip for the money is expected to possess more than one of these features.

There are more than one way of choosing the best computer chip depending on what you are really looking for. There is the topmost processor that is above all others and beats them in all departments of computing and then there is the budget choice, which offers the best at moderate cost. We will consider both types here.

Unarguably the Best Processor to Buy - Intel Core i7 990X
If you are looking for simply the best and cutting edge for your laptop or desktop computer, the Intel core i7 990X is 'The One'. It is simply the best processor on the planet. The most power packed processor launched by Intel till date, this is a beast of a CPU, with 6 cores, 12 threads, 12 MB smart cache and a maximum clocking frequency of 3.46 GHz that can touch 3.73 GHZ on demand, thanks to Intel's Turbo Boost technology. Its 32nm architecture means that it is a leaner, yet more powerful beast than its 45nm build predecessors. Get over quad and dual cores, six core processors are here!

This is unarguably the best computer chip for gaming. Its power as a processor is boosted by Intel's Hyper threading, virtualization, 6.4 GT/s Intel QPI and speed step technologies. It is a processor born to rule and conquer gaming aficionados and power users. With all these features, the price tag on the chip is $999. The price is truly justified by the phenomenal performance and brute force powered by its 6 cores and 12 threads. It is truly one of a kind in the computing market today. In the same Intel core i7 extreme series, there are a few more processors to watch out for, which include (The processors with 'M' in their name are laptop processors):

• Intel Core i7 980X (12 MB cache, 3.33 GHz)
• Intel Core i7 975X (8 MB cache, 3.33 Ghz)
• Intel Core i7 965 (8M Cache, 3.20 GHz)
• Intel Core i7 940XM (8M Cache, 2.13 Ghz)
• Intel Core i7 920XM (8M Cache, 2.00 Ghz)
• Intel Core i7-2960XM (8M Cache, 2.70 Ghz)
• Intel Core i7-2920XM (8M Cache, 2.50 GHz)

Best Budget Buys
The only problem with Intel core i7 990X and other processors from that series is the price which sets it beyond the reach of most mortals. However, there is a lot of choice in the lower ranks to choose from. As an AMD versus Intel chips comparison would reveal, top processors belonging to the other chip giant - AMD aren't in the same class as Intel's core i7. They are therefore competing with Intel by offering quad core chips at much lower prices. As the war between AMD and Intel processors rages on, we consumers are the one to benefit from the competition.

Here are some of the best CPUs to look out for, that fall in the medium and low-budget category, for you to choose from.

• AMD Phenom II X6 1100T - $265
• AMD Phenom II X6 1090T- $169
• AMD Phenom II X4 980 - $185
• AMD Phenom II X4 975 - $175
• AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4 GHz - $195
• Intel Core i5 750 2.66 GHz - $196
• Intel Pentium Processor G6950 2.80 - $87(!)
• AMD Phenom II X2 550 3.1 GHz - $102

If you are looking for the best computer chip, any one from the above list will meet your requirements. This list of best processors only includes those which offer great computing power at medium to low prices. Though they may not reach the dizzying heights of computing power reached by Intel core i7 990X, they are good enough for most gaming applications, as well as office or home use. Choose one that suits your budget. Going for the best is always the right choice.

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How to Access Your Computer's BIOS Setup

  The operating system is often regarded as the most important built-in program present on a computer during its manufacturing process. But in reality, there is one program that is pre-loaded on the machine, during its manufacturing process and that is the BIOS. To learn how to access this program to change certain computer settings, scroll below. What happens when you turn on your PC? Lights come on the keyboard and monitor, the computer's brand logo may appear on the screen, then the operating system loading message appears. This is all occurring on screen, but in the background, your computer is actually powering on and preparing its external and internal parts. Many assume the Operating System (OS) is the first program a computer loads and operates on but the actual start-up program is the BIOS. BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System, which is inbuilt in every PC during manufacturing and is loaded, run and executed when you press the power ON button of your PC. The BIOS is a sort of firmware interface for a computer. Different components, such as pen drives, graphics card, keyboard and mouse and disc drives attached to a computer, need to be initialized and identified to the computer. The BIOS does this in the form of a check-list ("turn USB ports on", done) and this procedure is known as POST (power-on self-test). The operating system itself is a program, which needs to be loaded and executed. This too is performed by the BIOS, which locates the OS program on the computer's hard disk and runs the program. One needs to enter the BIOS interface to change various system-level settings, such as changing the system clock, changing the boot up drive and managing memory. Listed below are the steps on how to access the computer's BIOS setup. How to Get Into Your Computer's BIOS? Step 1: Start your PC or restart it. When the computer starts up, usually the manufacturer's logo or the brand name of the PC is displayed on a black screen. In some cases, the screen turns into the logo of the operating system and a "loading" or "starting" message appears on the screen. At such booting screens, a small message is displayed, which has the combination of access keys needed to enter the BIOS. Examples of such messages are: Press "key" to enter BIOS "key" = Setup To enter the BIOS setup, press "key" + "key" Press "key" to access system configuration Press "key" to enter the Setup menu In some computers, the manufacturer's logo or brand name shows up and no message for entering the browser occurs. So try pressing the Tab or the Esc key to remove it. You can either note the key down or if the screen changes too fast for you to enter the BIOS, press the Pause/Break key on your keyboard. This key will pause the booting screen, so you can understand which keys are needed to access the BIOS. To unpause such a screen, press any key. Step 2: Once you know the access key combinations, then press that key or press the combination of keys during the booting screen to enter the BIOS interface. In some computers, just one press of the key is enough, with others, you may need to tap it repeatedly. Do not press and hold down the key with force or press it too many times. The system may hang or an error code will show up on screen and you will need to restart your PC. With certain machines, pressing the DEL key repeatedly at the boot up screen, before the OS loading screen appears, can bring up the BIOS screen. Other common BIOS keys are F1, F2, F10, F12 and ESC. Step 3: The BIOS is not dependent in any way on the operating system. So whether you are running Windows 7 or Mac OS X, the OS has nothing to do with your BIOS and hence different operating systems does not mean different BIOS access keys. Instead, your computer's BIOS depends on the manufacturer of the motherboard, like Acer or ASUS. So there are proprietary access keys to enter the BIOS screen, based on the brand of the computer. Some computer systems and their BIOS access shortcuts are: Manufacturer Access Keys Acer F1, F2, CTRL+ALT+ESC Compaq F10 (newer), F1, F2, DEL (older models) Dell 400 F3, F1 Dell 4400 F12 Dell Inspiron F2 Dell Latitude Fn+F1, Fn+ESC Gateway 2000 F1 Hewlett-Packard (HP) F1, F2, ESC (for laptops) IBM F1, F2 (E-pro laptop) Micron F1, F2, DEL Packard Bell F1, F2, DEL Sharp F2 Sony VAIO F2 Toshiba 335CDS ESC Toshiba Portégé ESC Toshiba Satellite F1 Toshiba Tecra F1 or ESC Warning: The above mentioned access keys may differ from computer to computer, so always verify the information prior to usage. The correct access keys are provided as a part of the computer's documentation. This site does not assume any responsibility for any issues that could occur by using the above information. The BIOS is a rather sensitive part of your computer's internal makeup, so pressing a lot of keys at the boot up screen is not a good idea, unless you know what you are doing. So do not press any or all keys in tandem or with force to enter your computer's BIOS. Instead, refer to your computer's manual and look for System Settings or similar headings to find the correct BIOS key. You can even search online using your computer's model number and make. Once you have actually accessed the BIOS and are facing the lovely light blue screen, here's a word of caution; fiddling with BIOS settings is not for novices or the ill-informed. If you know what you are doing, then only change settings and to be safe, write down what you are changing, in case you need to go back and rechange it. Use the arrow keys and function keys to navigate and select options within the menu. Accessing the BIOS of a computer's system can be done to change certain basic computer settings and workings, but should be carried out with caution.

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How do I upgrade the BIOS?

BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) is simply a system in which Chip Motherboard duty to recognize and prepare the hardware / computer hardware when the PC is turned on, such as Hardisk, Processor, Floppy Disk, Memory, DVD Rom and others. If all goes wrong then the Operating System (such as Windows, Linux) just starting to runIf the computer is running smoothly or not having problems, it does not need to upgrade (update) the BIOS in your computer. Because it is very risky for those not familiar, if not careful even computers can not be operated anymore ;). But there are some things that cause the BIOS must be upgraded, for example:


    When the computer starts, sudden stops before entering the operating system. But you should also read this article.
    Computer long enough, and we install the new hardware is not detected properly, for example, we replace the new processor. Because the BIOS is often not recognize the processor.
    BIOS is damaged, either indicated by the message or not. For example invalid BIOS, BIOS corrupted and so on.
    BIOS fails to detect the hardware, such as hardiks, CD-ROM, VGA and other
    Wanted [little] further optimize the performance of computer (hardware)
    The presence of the vendor recomendasi MotherboardIf the BIOS in your computer is damaged, it can not automatically run the operating system like Windows XP for example. Some things that can cause damage to the BIOS for example:

    Turn off the computer without a shutdown, or a sudden power off (without UPS)
    Hit by Virus
    BIOS upgrade errors. For example, the computer turns off when the upgrade, the BIOS does not match the type of motherboard etc..How to upgrade BIOS Computer?To upgrade the BIOS, you need 2 files, the first BIOS file itself and the Flash Memory Writer utility, to upgrade the software (flash) the BIOS, for example AFLASH.EXE, AWD816a.EXE and others. BIOS file usually with extension 001, BIN or any other, with a bunch of size less than 512 KB. For most of the BIOS upgrade should be done through DOS or MS-DOS, although now also has a lot of vendors that provide software-based Windows.Noteworthy is the search for the BIOS file and the Flash Writer is right, because if it does not match, the computer is not likely going to be able to live longer. But if the type is correct, then the possibility is always successful, but a power failure or computer off when the flash BIOS is running. BIOS flash generally lasts only a few seconds. Less than 30 seconds. To flash the BIOS, go to DOS, type the name of the Flash Writer, for example, to AWD816a.EXEC: \ ADW816aThen there is usually a description of how to use. Follow the commands, be sure to backup the old BIOS, it can be done with the flash file writer as well. Descriptions shown may vary. If still in doubt, should be asked to know more. Or it could also be read in the motherboard manual.How to determine motherboard type?There are several ways to determine the type of motherboard you have, among others:

    See the user manual that is included when buying a motherboard
    Looking at the initial display when the computer is on, usually shown the series or type of motherboard
    Looking at the motherboard directly (open the computer case), there is usually written Motherboard brand and type.Where Download the BIOS and Flash Utility?If we include the popular motherboard, the vendor usually has provided BIOS and Flash Utility download it, like MSI, Gigabyte and the like. Here are some links to download BIOS and motherboard drivers that can be used as a reference:

    ASUS Motherboards here
    ECS Web Site here
    GIGABYTE Motherboards here
    Micro Star International (MSI) motherboard here
    Place DriverStock download various driversIf your motherboard does not have an official web site to download drivers, you can try searching through www.google.com, type in the type of motherboard is followed by words such as BIOS, download the BIOS and the like. Eg "BIOS P4VP-MX" or "Download BIOS P4VP-MX".

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Harddisk Bad Sector Improving


Hard drive storage media which is very important on the computer. Unfortunately, a limited service life. Damage to the hard drive can be caused by several things.For example:

    Inadequate power supply and damage the hard drive controller and motor.
    Fall and damage the mechanical hard drive in it or at least going bad sectors.
    Too often take it without a safety brought to platter hard drive is damaged due to excessive shock.
    Temperature in the heat makes the condition hard disk in an unstable environment.
    MTBF condition / age of the hard drive, has been reached and will be damaged.

It is still possible to fix hard drive bad sector affected is the only condition in which the hard drive is still spinning, the state controller is still working hard. But the state is still divided again, if you want to use the hard disk bad sector affected.Problems cause bad sector is one of the damage that often occurs. Condition of damage by bad sectors are distinguished by three circumstances.Condition in which the hard disk platter worn. In this condition it has no hard drive can be used. The longer the hard drive getting damaged and no longer useful to be used as storage media.Platter is worn but the condition has not reached a critical condition. This condition can be quite stable to drive. Possible hard drive can still be improved because the platter is still possible dilow level.Worn platter conditions, both conditions are severe or mild, but the damage found in cluster 0 (the location where the hard drive partition information is stored). This condition does not allow the hard drive repaired.Discuss the state of the hard drive to allow repairs to be fixed only to the second condition, where the surface of the disk is still stable, but there is minor damage in some places.PurposeAttempts to use the hard drive contained bad sectorsTo eliminate damage to the location of bad sectors.Stages 1Before performing the next step should use the stage 1 to ensure the condition of the damaged hard drive platter. To know this is hard to do a LOW LEVEL FORMAT (LLF). LLF can be done from the BIOS or software. For the BIOS, such as the generation of some old PC Pentium 486 or (586) has the option LLF. Or may use the software LLF. LLF to get the software can be loaded on the hard drive manufacturer's site. Or search for a file utility like hddutil.exe (from Maxtor - MaxLLF.exe) and wipe.exe version 1.0c 05/02/96.LLF is the function of the software either delete the entire partition information, data and information in the hard disk bad sector. This software is also useful to correct errors in the FAT 32 partition creation of Windows Fdisk.After running the program LLF, the disk will be completely clean as the condition was first used.Warning: Use of LLF software will erase all data in the hard diskStages 2The next step is to try and error method. Stage for this session are:

    Creating disk partitions: With FDISK program with a partition, either primary or extended partition. For the primary can be done with a single hard drive, but when it willed as an extended hard drive, it needs a hard drive as the boot process and has had primary partition (the partition to boot).
    Format the hard disk: With the FORMAT C: / C. The addition of the / C option to run the checks in the event of bad sectors. During the formatting process check on the percentage of how much damage the hard drive. This can be seen in the image below.
    Create a partition again: With FDISK, remove all partitions in the hard disk before, and to re-partition according to the records of the damage. The assumption in the figure below is the creation of a Primary partition and Extended partitions. In the Primary partition is invisible and only indicated the extended partition. Division in the picture below is on drive D and F (22MB and 12 MB) discarded because there are bad sectors. While the E and G (758MB and 81MB) is a drive that is still in good condition and can be used.
    To ascertain what is bad sectors on hard drive partitions are to be discarded, format the entire drive letter with the command FORMAT / C. When bad sectors are found on a discarded partition (assuming the test is bad sectors on the drive letter D and F), then the partition can be immediately discarded. But if something goes wrong, such damage is not bad sectors in the partition to be removed but there is on the partition to be used, you must repeat the process over from scratch by removing the partition where there is an error in the partition dividing the bad sector affected. Things to remember: Making a partition done from beginning to end, for example, C, D, E and beyond. To get rid of the partition using the opposite way from Z to C. Errors in the dump and create a partition that random mess will mess up your system hard drive partition.
    The next process is to remove the partition that is not used anymore. After examination by the FORMAT program, then the next process is to remove the partition that contains bad sectors. In the picture below is: Phase 2 partitions with FDISK throw for the drive letter D and E. For E and G is the partition drive letter that will be used.
    At the end of the stage you can check the hard drive partition with option 4 (Display partitisi) the FDISK program, an example in the picture below is the remaining 3 drives: C as the primary partition (not shown), two extended partitions are still good and the partition that contains bad sector has been deleted.
    End of the process. You have a hard drive with a condition that has been improved due to bad sectors. Divided on the C drive letter as a Primary partition and used as a boot, D (758MB) and E (81MB) is a partition into 2 and 3 in the extended partition.
When the FORMAT program featuring Trying to recover allocation unit xxxxxx, meaning that the program is examining the conditions in which the disk is going bad sectors. Assumptions on the test below is a 1.2 GB Seagate hard drive with 2 minor damage location and approximate percentage figures shown by the program FORMAT: Display Conditions on the percentage of program formats that can be used

    Both the 0-20% 20%
    Bad sectors 21% Disposed
    Both the 22-89% 67%
    Bad sectors 91% Disposed
    Both the 91-100% 9%
If you are stubborn enough to fix your bad sectors, can also be done with the try-error by repeating the search for the location of bad sectors on the disk is smaller stages, eg multiple partitions to minimize the possibility of wasted space on the partition that will be discarded. The more determined to find a place where there is damage to the bad sector is getting better, only this way will require a longer time, although the result was quite satisfactory to minimize hard disk location where the damage occurred.If you are not satisfied with the results of search for bad sectors, you can repeat the above prosesur. Tips for doing this should already know the procedure in making a partition with FDISK program.To be noted in this tip is, be careful in the use of LLF program. We recommend using a single drive to use this program. Mistakes do LOW LEVEL FORMAT the hard drive is very fatal and can not dikembalikin original condition.For the affected hard drive using a hard drive should BAD SECTOR whose condition is not too severe or there are bad sectors in some places and not sporadic spread. Damage in many places (sporadic bad sectors) on the disk will be a place where there is a difficult search for bad sectors.This article has been carried out by LAB Busset, and errors in doing this beyond Tips Busset responsibility ..Sources: obengware.com

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Problem Installing Windows 7

Some problems when installing Windows 7

Windows 7 is the latest product from microsoft, even if windows 7 offers many convenience to users but there are some weaknesses that you may experience when installing windows 7.
There are some things that often happens when you first install windows 7

1. Can not boot from the Windows 7 DVD
2. During setup, does not detect your hard disk
3. During setup, some peripherals do not work properly
4. Drivers that are unsigned, have a signature that is invalid or can not be verified by a trusted Certificate Authority, or have a digital signature that has been altered can be installed by an administrator on 32-bit (x86) versions of Windows, but they can not be installed on any 64-bit (x64) version of Windows
5. Old hardware is not functioning optimally because the drivers are not compatible or not supported by windows 7

Here are some references that might help you in resolving problems when installing windows. I classify into two parts such as Set Up Windows 7 and Signed drivers under Windows 7

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