Share/Bookmark The current most popular operating system for desktop computers is Windows 8, which is the latest offering from Microsoft. You can still buy Windows 7 if you prefer the interface, but because Windows 8 was just released we do not recommend going with any other OS to ensure future compatibility with all hardware and software. Earlier versions of Windows are not as well optimized to take advantage of current computer hardware, but there are a number of different currently supported Windows versions that serve the needs of different kinds of...

Share/BookmarkMany cases actually come with an atx power supply pre-installed. If your computer is going to be used primarily for low-end applications, such as office work and web surfing, this power supply will typically suffice; however, high end gaming PCs will require power supplies with higher power output. If you’re using a high end graphics card, you should pick at least a 500W power supply; multiple graphics card configurations could require 750W or even 1000W. There are also modular power supplies, which allow you to only attach the connectors your PC...

Share/BookmarkChoosing the right PCIE Video Card depends a lot on what you want to do with your computer. If you are just using your PC for desktop computing, Internet browsing, and the like, then using your motherboard’s on-board graphics should be enough. If you plan on running multiple monitors or doing any PC gaming, however, you should select a graphics card. Most graphics cards support multiple monitor outputs, so getting a cheap video card just for that won’t set you back much, while PC gaming has higher requirements served by a high end graphics card. High end gaming graphics cards tend to...

Share/BookmarkMost desktop computers today use hard disk drives for storage; however, a new kind of storage drive, the SSD or solid state drive, is quickly gaining popularity. While hard drives offer more storage space at a lower price, solid state drives are more reliable, and perform much more quickly. Many PC users install both an HDD and a SSD in their PCs – the solid state drive can be used to run the operating system and programs, while the HDD is used for storage space. If you don’t have a need for storage space or keep most of your files online in “cloud” storage, having an SSD alone is...

Share/BookmarkIntel Silvermont (notice it’s not Silvermount, but Silvermont!) is here and signals Intel’s entry into mobile. While the world collectively says ‘it’s about time’, it’s important to understand that even though Intel is new to the mobile game, their technology is years ahead of all the major competitors. This includes ARM. Intel’s already bragging that their Silvermont processors offer up to 3x the speed of any chip out on the market OR up to 5x the power efficiency. Because Intel is manufacturing on the 22nm process and using tri-gate...

Share/BookmarkIntel announced that the release date for their all new Haswell line of processors will be June 3rd – June 4th at Computex. Haswell is the widely anticipated update to Ivy Bridge and people are already touting it’s highly efficient characteristics and next generation speed. Haswell will be built on the 22nm process and promises enhanced video performance built into the chip – taking onboard graphics to the next level.