computers

Do You Need Extra Cooling for Your CPU?

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CPU cooler

Every CPU comes equipped with its own cooling system. The CPU comes  with a fan and heatsink to cool it down. However this fan and heatsink may not be enough to cool down the CPU during high

demanding tasks. CPUs also have their optimum working temperatures making them also come equipped with a cooling controller. The fan speeds are controlled as needed. 

When the temperature of a CPU is very high it can lead to an irrepairable damage. Also the CPU will begin to malfunction or run slowly at very high temperatures. Most computers come equipped with sensors that detect a very high temperature CPU and shut off the computer abruptly to protect the CPU from damage.

The more demanding tasks the CPU is made to analyse, the more temperature it will have. In high demanding games and video editing work you will most likely need an extra CPU cooling system, otherwise at very high temperatures, the CPU may malfunction and the computer will shut off abruptly which can cause damage to hardware and software components.

The two types of extra CPU cooling system you might need are the air-cooled cooling system and the water cooled system.

The air CPU cooler is just an advanced fan and heatsink that you can attach to your CPU for better cooling efficiency.

The water CPU cooler is the better way of cooling your CPU, it consists of a fan and radiator that you can attach to your PC. Because it uses water as the coolant it is far more efficient than an air cooled CPU. However it comes at the higher cost. But if you are using a very powerful CPU and usually play a demanding games or edit high definition videos or run high demanding 3D applications, a computer to function optimally and last longer, consider getting water cooled CPU

What are Expansion Cards ?

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Expansion cards are printed circuit boards that add functionality to your PC. Basically your PC doesn’t need these cards to function, but as you continue using your PC, in the long run you will need them. 

 Your PC usually  comes installed with a basic graphics card for doing things like typing,  watching movies,  playing some low CPU demanding games. However if you discover in the course of doing certain tasks that your PC is slow, such as when video editing or playing certain video games, then you may need to install an additional graphics card. 

Types of expansion cards that you may need.

Graphics accelerator card

One of the most sought-after expansion cards in the market is the graphics accelerator card. High-end video editing 3D application software and video games are very CPU demanding. These applications can overwhelm even the most advanced CPU in the market, this is why they must be used with an additional capable graphics card installed. Graphics cards are available in the market in various grades and capabilities

Sound cards

If you want more quality sound from your PC or if you are a sound producer editor then a better sound card may be required. 

Network cards

Network cards enable you to connect your PC to another PC and also to the internet, enabling you to transfer or download data at high speeds

If the network ports that came with your PC don’t produce the speed that you need then a more advanced Network card can be the answer.

Storage card reader

There are many types of memory card storage around. So having an expansion card that can read all of them makes a lot of sense.

Do You Need an Optical Drive for Your PC

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Do you need an optical drive for your PC or laptop? Few years ago, it was necessary but nowadays it is optional. There are many options of storing data which is the reason why optical drives are becoming obsolete. Large files  are stored in the cloud  or USB flash drives these days. The speed of the internet is much faster now so downloading very large files in a few minutes is possible these days.

 If you will install an optical drive for your PC then go for the DVD or Blu-ray optical writer drives. DVDs and Blu-ray discs can store very large files making it sometimes economical to use them. Don’t even think of installing an optical ordinary CD drive, it’s pointless.

Go for an optical drive in which its front cover blends with your PC case.

If you don’t want to install an optical DVD or Blu-ray writer drive, you can get a portable, external optical drive instead. Its portability enables you to easily carry it around, plug into your PC or laptop or even your TV.

As said earlier it’s very possible to build a PC or have a laptop without an optical drive. However, make sure your internet speed is fast so that you can download large files in a few minutes. Have a 16 GB or 32 GB flash drive so that you can easily transfer, copy and  install softwares. Your PC or laptop usually comes equipped with an external memory card reader or slot. Memory cards  now have capacities of up to 256 GB or even more.

About the Graphical Processing Unit (GPU)

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A high end GPU

Most personal computers comes installed with some sort of graphics processing unit. (GPU). Basically the graphics processing unit controls the quality of display shown on the monitor screen. 

If you use your PC to do soft jobs such as typing or watching HD movies the PC would likely be fitted with an integrated GPU. This type of GPU uses resources from the PCs central processing unit. The main disadvantage of integrated GPUs is that they are not that powerful and when you use a heavier program such as a 3D application the whole system will  slow down.

A dedicated GPU comes with his own processor and VRAM and does not draw resources from the CPU. Your PC will need a dedicated GPU if you’ll be using it for powerful 3D applications  HD video editing and high end video gaming.

Types of GPUs available

There are many types of GPUs available but the two most prominent types are those  made by Nividia or AMD. These two major GPU makers are very good and you can’t choose between them. However, Nividia gpu’s have a slight edge. GPUs come in videos grades and models to suit your needs. There are high-end GPUs and low-end ones. Things to look out for when purchasing a suitable GPU includes:

  1. Video memory or VRAM: the more powerful a GPU is, the more VRAM it will have. Also check the VRAM speed too; The higher the better.
  2. Clock speed and memory bus: as with the VRAM, the higher the processor speed and amount of memory bus the better the GPU is.
  3. Size: high-end GPUs are very large in size. Take note of this, you must purchase a GPU that can conveniently fit inside your PC.

Parts of a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

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Modern graphics card or GPU can be expensive and quite intimidating to look at. Here is a brief explanation of parts of a standard high end  GPU so that you can be more comfortable handling one.

Referring to the figure above

  1. PCIE connector: along the bottom of the card is the connector for the PCIe x 16 socket on your motherboard. It must be firmly seated into the motherboard and will be held in place by a clip or slide on the socket
  2. Output ports: this port enable you to connect your monitor to the graphics card. Modern graphics cards now have in addition, the DVI and HDMI ports.
  3. Exhaust Vent: the exhaust vent helps to get some of the massive amounts of heat generated by the card out of the case. Not all graphics cards have vents but most high-end ones do.
  4. Cooling fans: if your GPU is a powerful one it must be fitted with fans in addition to the heat sink. In other words not all GPUs come fitted with fans.
  5. Cross switch connector: cross switch connector is used to connect to another GPU. Not all high-end GPUs come with this kind of connector.
  6. Power supply port: many modern graphics cards now have their own separate power connection, separate from the power that goes to the motherboard.
  7. Speed controller switch: this is the fan speed controller switch. It is used to manually control the fan speed.

About Power Supply Unit. (PSU) of a PC

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power supply unit (PSU)

The power supply unit PSU is often the most overlooked component of the PC. It is also the component that usually first develops a fault. When purchasing a PSU, make sure it has enough capacity to power all the components of your PC and with a little to spare. The PSU should have enough capacity to power the CPU, GPU, HDD,  CD drive,  motherboard and with a little to spare in case of an upgrade.

To know the PSU capacity you should buy, add up the power requirements of all major components of your PC, will give you a great idea of the power capacity ups you should have.

Modern power supply units for PCs are usually rated between 1000 to 1500 Watts.

Types of PSU

Wired psu
modular psu

The two types of PSU out there are the wired and  the modular PSU. The wired PSU comes with connecting  wires attached permanently to the  power unit. The modular PSU comes with connecting wires detached from the power unit, you only plug the ones that are needed. The modular PSU is more expensive due to the convenience it provides.

Power connectors

This refers to the connecting wires from the power unit to the PC components. It is your duty to check that the power unit you have purchased has the correct connecting wires and pin mouths to attach to your PC components such as the CPU, GPU  CD-ROM , DVD and so on.

20 + 4 pin connector:

this is the connector for the motherboard. Your motherboard may come with a 20 or 24 pin connector.

The 4+4 pin connector:

this is the connector for the CPU, it can either be a 4 pin or 8 pin connector.

PCIE 6 Pin Connector:

this is a dedicated connector for modern GPUs. Older GPUs draw their power from the motherboard.

Molex connector:

this connector is used to provide power to the hard drive and the CD drive. Nowadays this connector has been replaced by SATA connectors.

SATA connectors:

these are the latest connectors for hard disk drives and optical drives.