What you need to know about motherboards

     No self-respecting computer user will buy a PC already configured often already obsolete components. But we have to admit: having a configuration can transform me into an adventure in the jungle IT. However, the choice of motherboard is one of the starting points.
     Most buyers are turning to computers preconfigured systems, taking into account those basic specs that give an overall PC performance. But if you want to put together a customized system with carefully chosen components, an important step is choosing the motherboard. Because this will condition subsequent configuration of the entire system. Although at first glance it seems a complicated operation that requires a lot of technical knowledge, but do not lose your temper, i will help you to understand.

FORMATS

     Overcoming criterion called producer, initially you should inquire format motherboard. But in the meantime this has been stabilized. Since its introduction in 1995 by Intel ATX format, surely now most home computers have preferred this option to determine not only the form of housing, but also the management of electricity. So most likely, you will opt for the classic ATX motherboard. But overall your culture, you should know that there are smaller versions MicroATX or Mini-ITX. They are consuming less power and therefore do not need to manage heat. A newer generation are BTX formats. Developed in 2004, emerged as a result of consuming power of new technologies, thereby generating increasingly more heat.

PLATFORM, PROCESSOR, SOCKET

     Once past the gauntlet required size, we need to talk about the platform. Even here things are very complicated. How poor are likely to opt for the American Apple, you only have two options: Intel or AMD. It means if Intel recently as the steep prices compared to AMD, now, the two largest manufacturers of chips can be difficult to shoot a strictly by these two criteria. What came first: the chicken or the egg? a similar dilemma we are and we reach this point: pick first processor to know what the hardware platform we have to focus further or to choose first and then board a compatible processor? Most would vote for the first option, but there are arguments for the second. Anyway, it's better to target those boards that support a larger range of processors, in view of a possible upgrade. CPU choice is made depending on what you intend to do with your computer just setting. And here you have in mind especially the CPU speed. Only then will you turn to a corresponding socket. But this is already another story ...

CHIPSET

     Perhaps the most delicate point of our discussion is the so-called chipset, considered the heart of the motherboard. It coordinates the entire system through two distinct parts: the Northbridge and Southbridge. The first is related to the processor data bus and RAM modules, while the second will connect the other components (hard drive, optical drives CD / DVD, video and sound cards, any components connected via PCI slots and other components connected via USB, serial, PS / 2). The two are separated physically, but communicate over a high-speed bus.
     Opting for a chipset manufacturer or another is done as needed (performance is not justified if excessive use resource intensive applications) and the maker of processors for which you chose. Thus, AMD will have to choose a product NVidia chipset, VIA, SIS, AMD or ALI, and for the Intel chipsets Intel, SIS, or VIA AU.
     Chipsets are implemented software for a specific set of drivers. Do not forget to keep the CD with every motherboard and reinstall the system to immediately install these drivers. Also on the CD in question will receive several programs, among which the most important is the CPU heat Monitoring of rotational speed of the cooler.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

     Also, the chipset is also responsible for other features like sound card, video or network card, in which case you are exempt from additional expenses to be purchased separately. However, most of the new generation motherboards (especially the low end) offer this feature. It's good to know that integrated motherboards, especially graphics will feast greedy of system RAM. Besides more RAM you will need to have, never will warn that there will be some integrated cards performance. So if you want to play some newer games, opt for an independent video card, more performance than integrated motherboard.
     As many technologies implemented on new generations of motherboards, we can talk more. Whether it is the cooling or power consumption reduction, not to mention the chipset, the fact is that manufacturers are constantly moving.

MARKET SEGMENT

     And if all this continues to be exposed to sound like gibberish, we invite you to apply simple rule of three. That is to consider the three market segments: Low end, Mainstream and High end.
Low end is where the emphasis is on price. Course, and facilities will be minimal. However, you get a computer that can handle it acceptable to all household needs. If new games, however, you may experience problems.
     Mainstream is the next step to try to keep an acceptable ratio quality / price. This segment addresses the future visionaries who want to find them ready.
     The last step definitely not interested. includes components not accept any compromise in terms of quality and prices are as.
     This applies to all electronic devices tiebreaker, but if the choice motherboards simplify considerably. A home user to IT-istic common interests will be most of the time, excited by a low end card that adds possibly a graphics card to be able to also enjoy the latest games.
     In what follows, we will build on places or banks (connectors, slots) available on a motherboard.  Settlement, their number and type vary depending on motherboard model, but basically, you will not face other connectors.

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Thunderbolt, a cable for all devices

     PC users have dreamed of such a connection for years: fewer cables and computer peripherals to a high speed data transfer. These goals become reality with Thunderbolt: instead that users struggle with HDMI cables, VGA, DisplayPort, DVI, eSATA USB or FireWire, they may use one type of cable, Thunderbolt, for any of the categories of devices. And by the way, Thunderbolt achieve much higher transfer speeds than USB 3.0.

Thunderbolt arrives on Windows

     Thunderbolt is a new technology that is supported yet only a handful of devices, Apple was the first computer maker to integrate it (turbo)-connection in its models. Starting with 2012, Thunderbolt is aviable and on PC's. Large manufacturers such as Asus and Acer, had incorporate technology in ultrabooks.

Intel first introduced the technology in 2009, under the original name of Light Peak. The idea was that it acts as a universal interface, linking computers monitors, peripherals or other devices for entertainment. As its name suggests, it was planned to be based on an optical system for transmitting information, but reasons of expense, it was introduced in early 2011 as the current Thunderbolt, which uses electrical transmission. First-generation Thunderbolt uses copper wires. One of the advantages we have is that the Thunderbolt optic version is removed from the calculations, the contrary is an Intel Expected in specificafiile no explicit protocol for transmission type layer electrically and / or optically. The technology works irrespective of who provides the connection layer. Thus, Intel announced for next year generated a second Thunderbolt, which will have an optical data transmission system (that will use optical cables). All controllers that are integrated into devices that are already on the market should be able to be adapted to the new cable with minimum effort. The advantage of the new generation will be that, instead of cable 3 meter cable can be used 10 meters.

Data flows divided flexibly

     Another advantage of Thunderbolt technology, which uses parallel data channels operating in both directions (see chart below). These two duplex channels that are able to provide total by 10 Gb / s for each of the directions of transmission. A single cable can connect up to six devices, but they will have to divide between them all this bandwidth. The first benchmarks indicate that the maximum achieved in practice is not yet reached. For example, a RAID storage device from Promise was able to achieve 825 MB / s At first glance, it seems disappointing, considering that Thunderbolt's limit is 1250 MB / s (= 1.25 GB / s = 10 Gb / s). But here are some other limiting factors such as RAID controller.

Thunderbolt has great potential. In 2015, Intel wants to get with it at 50 Gb / s per channel for 2019 to reach 100 Gb / s.

     Glancing Thunderbolt protocol, we see that it serves two existing standards - PCI Express and DisplayPort (instead of the latter may be others, but we DisplayPort implementation used by Apple). Thunderbolt takes these two protocols and encapsulates them in his own Metaprotocol. For peripheral and host computer, they are visible as before, continuing to use them as before. Stack of Thunderbolt takes care of traffic and delivering data to the appropriate destination. Besides the "routing" of traffic, Thunderbolt supports other features such as hot-plugging. Thunderbolt's heart is the transport layer protocol: for example here to ensure synchronization devices. Another element that will benefit Thunderbolt technology is powered directly through the Thunderbolt cable, so peripherals (even the low consumption) need not to have mains power. Intel introduced the Thunderbolt specifications possibility that the cables of this type are suportafi up to 10W.

Conveniently, with new chips

     Excellent impression about the Thunderbolt is slightly overshadowed by the connection system. Although in terms of mechanical and electrical connector supports one miniDP the cable ends contains two transceivers that significantly increase production costs. Apple sells a Thunderbolt cable 2 meters with about 50 euros. Also, first-generation Thunderbolt controllers are expensive. But Intel is working on this issue and, in addition to high-end controllers next generation (which is known as Cactus Ridge), the company announced at IDF and low end controllers, cheap, such as L2210. This would introduce computer technology into the space available.

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Proper management of hard disk

          Any hardware can be replaced, less hard drive full of personal data and valuable collections. Learn how to manage your hard disk information stored and, especially, what you have to do to keep them safe.
         Hard disk (HDD) is perhaps the most important component of our computer. Not materially, but information stored here are important documents, applications and even the operating system custom. That nearly all of a functional PC. And if we add valuable personal documents or collections. Overall, then you should have great confidence in this device. We do not want to imagine the despair caused by an error message like "HARD DISK INSTALL FAILURE" or "Primary master hard disk fail". Did you lose everything? Well, do not despair, there is always hope!
          The good news is your dates are probably still intact and safely on your hard drive, just for now, because no longer can access the index - which tracks all data from the hard disk - is damaged. And even if the fault is more serious, there are certain specialized personnel will recover all data. Just like all surgery will cost more surprising.
          But we hope to not get there. Is the purpose of this article: to save that money by preventing situations that are aimed at hard disk failure. And if you still are not answering the call data, we recommend a number of programs that can resuscitate (see  saving Applications).

Saving applications

          There are many applications to recover accidentally lost data. Besides the types of licenses and the companies behind them, they are addressed to OS file system dedicated. But differentiation does not end there. In the following / we will review the three major types of these applications, depending on their level of applicability. They complement each other, as far preferable to have an application installed in each category.
Prevention: This application will protect the system area of ​​the hard disk by copying her section or other data storage media. Thus, if the original index will be damaged, the software will know to restore the base backup. Example: DART Data Recovery
Data Recovery: useful when the operating system is still functional, but some data have been accidentally deleted, they are still partly or wholly on the HDD, but the lack of index. This offer is extremely rich. Be selective recovery applications are dedicated to each type of file. Example: Power Data Recovery
Child Safety: It works as an additional measure of safety. Automatically or manually backup the entire hard disk or other storage media, so that in case of missing data, you can recover them. Example: Instabackup Golgi

Do not you know?

          Most unsuspecting users think that a deleted file will disappear forever. Well, not so. Even if you do not discover in the Recycle Bin, it is still on the disk. To delete the file just disappears from the index entry disk. The space occupied by the current file will be available to serve other files copied later. This is called "overwriting" So it is possible to recover files by calling the dedicated programs. You can even recover such files in formatted memory units.

Defects resulting in loss DATA

          There are many reasons that can cause such loss: a virus, a power failure, the nature of various software or hardware failure, human error or even "accidents" caused. But to understand exactly what happens in these cases, you need to understand in advance the operation of a hard disk classical physics, and logical structure for storing and accessing data.

PHYSICAL DAMAGE

          This diagram reveals the main components that make up the physical structure of the hard drive. As you can see, it is built after the same principles as DJ turntables. Remember that we consider classical hard disks, those still working on mechanics. Although SSDs come strong after - hard drives based on flash memory quickly and quietly, are still too expensive and capacity constraints to be considered. You may have in mind to replace the system partition and to support the most sensitive data. But in the end, all the classics remain basic, so we refer to them in the following.

          First, housing is one airtight. Any speck of dust which penetrates hard drive will have catastrophic consequences. Then dynamic factors involved. Platters hard disks, made of special alloys, with a magnetic coating on both sides. They are rotated at speeds that can exceed 15,000 rpm the engine attached to a central axis.

          Data are managed by heads read / write. They never touch the disk surface, but the distance between the two is very small, so any sudden movement could result in a head touch the disk surface, which can lead to damage and even destruction of that turntable. This situation is described by the phrase "hard drive crash".

Burning and reading heads must move very quickly on the surface of the disc to collect data from various locations without the processing speed will be affected significantly. Multiply the number of platters 2 (since both sides of the platters are engraved) and get the number of automatic arms. But all arms moving simultaneously acting as one. Why? How to organize your logic ... but this makes the destruction of a turntable sometimes have fatal effects on the others. Of course, in these cases, the data can not be recovered.

          And the rest of hard drive components may be damaged. The face that controls movements rotors can burn due to power fluctuations. All these components can be replaced (except for the already mentioned when affected turntables). These operations are only so-called "clean rooms" perfectly sealed so as not to let any foreign object to penetrate around the worktable. For example, in such a camera, the certificate Class-100, it will be found more than 100 particles having sizes greater than 0.5 micron. And do not insist here on the equipment they will have such a laboratory dedicated hard disks.

LOGIC FAILURE

          The logical structure of a hard disk defines how data is organized on the platters. It is similar when organizing content in books, where you have the content organized into chapters. This will allow you to locate a specific chapter or paragraphs in the whole works. In case of hard disks, we have section system (System Area), correspondence contents and section data (Data Area) for chapters themselves. Just as PCs have to manage tens of thousands of files. But not enough. Further, the data section is organized into tracks and sectors, illustrated graphically in the pictures above, so that the data file is stored on one or more sectors.

The logic that determines how to organize data on a storage medium is filesystem. It will decide how to engage, description, elements of data protection that we write on the media can be written retrieved, indexed and properly protected. Each of these environments only recognize a particular file system. Operating systems are also conditioned by them. For example, the default Windows XP works only with FAT or NTFS file systems.

          What interests us at the moment is that these systems will manage rules and file allocation table or index, located in the System section, based on which the files are found when clicking. And if this index will be damaged read head will be impossible to access the data section. All our information will still exist but will not be available due to system failure section. We have to deal with a logical structural damage. The difference from the first case of physical defects, is that this time we will not face a catastrophe. Dedicated data recovery programs (see Applications saving) will recover a good portion of the information that we thought lost forever, scanning sector by sector data section. More advanced programs can even restore a file stored on multiple sectors.

DOUBLE FAILURE

          The third largest category of why our data shows disappear from combining the two categories already stated. Generally, it is represented by corrupt sectors.

          The sectors affected by abrupt discontinuation of electric current during read or write operations. Data in corrupt sectors will be lost permanently. Some sectors are mistakenly flagged as corrupt, but these types of errors can be corrected (see you have corrupt sectors?).

You have corrupt sectors?

          You can find the answer very simple. Although there are specialized programs Windows operating systems come with a dedicated tool, here's what you have to do to start:

1. Access path Start> Run

2. Run console, type chkdsk command. And press [Enter]. In this way, the entire hard disk will be scanned and the results will be presented in a report. From here you will find out whether or not you corrupt sectors. But this will not be isolated or rights reinstated. But the command chkdsk / f will fix this problem.

Alternative

1. From any file browser, right-click the partition you want to check and click Properties.

2. In the window, enable the registry Tools, then click the Check Now button found in the first section.

3. In the Check Disk window, check both options that you are offered (to fix errors found and try to recover data from corrupted sectors).

4. Click on Start.

          You will know that you are suspected of "bad sectors" since the system startup when after surgery boot, Windows Scan Disk program triggers.

Access the CHKDSK utility to permanently delete corrupt sectors, Otherwise that they can not be used or endanger the data stored here (see box you have corrupt sectors?). If you find too many bad sectors, you should consider buying a new hard disk.

          Corrupt sectors are inevitable. But you can substantially reduce their operating system correctly closing (turning to Shut Down function). It is also recommended to purchase a protection against outages and voltage fluctuations (for UPS). Otherwise, do not hesitate to put into practice our tips to prevent loss of data stored on the hard drive (see Tips for prevention).

Prevention Tips

1. Do not turn off the computer brutal, out of its socket or by long pressing the power button. Always call the classical way - Start> Turn off computer.

2. Do not move your computer while it works. In the case of laptops, if you still have to move, do not make sudden movements.

3. Run the Windows Disk Defragmenter application often (at least once a month). Thus, the chances of recovering your data will substantially increase.

4. If the hard drive is already damaged or you have accidentally formatted not copy or install new files and other applications. They will write over data that you no longer can access yet.

5. Do not place electrical equipment fitted with magnets such as speakers, near the hard disk.

6. Purchase laptops with hard drive protection mechanism to shocks. Another option would be to choose you more expensive SSD hard drives. Lack of movement of these mechanisms eliminate many of the causes of accidental loss of data.

7. Use antivirus applications and performing preventive updated often. Also often transfer important data on optical media. Warning though: they do not have a shelf life infinite!

8. Run Windows Scan Disk utility at least once a month. It can detect and possibly isolate corrupt sectors.

9. Acquire a UPS source, it will provide shelter fluctuations or interruptions.

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