Log in ....Tribune--On Hardware

Monday, August 14, 2000		On Hardware

Computer & the human anatomy
By Vipul Verma

A computer is like a human body. Almost every part is similar to a body organ in the function it performs.

Motherboard of a computer is like the circulatory system. Just as the circulatory system connects all body parts with the heart, besides carrying blood, the motherboard has buses, which carry data, besides linking all parts. The processor can be compared with the heart and the RAM to the brain. Without the former, the computer is as good as dead and without the latter, the computer won't remember what functions to memorise. The hard disk of a computer is like the stomach, which stores all information and churns out the data.

All these are vital essentials and the performance of a computer is directly proportional to the ultimate combination of these. However, for a detailed study, we shall discuss them individually:

Hard disk: As mentioned earlier, it is one of the most critical parts of a computer. Besides the storage capacity, there are some other points, which should be taken into consideration. There are two types of hard disks:

1) Primary IDE Hard disk

2) SCSI Hard disk

Just as Surf is the synonymous to any detergent and Dalda with vegetable oil, primary IDE is the synonymous to the hard disk. Ask a dealer for a hard disk from a dealer and a primary IDE hard disk will be what you'll get. Primary IDE is the interface, which is normally used in a PC. In servers, SCSI hard disks are being used normally. The basic difference between the two is of speed and performance. While the primary IDE is used in PCs because of nominal price, SCSI hard disks are used only in such systems which have to perform under heavy workload as these are expensive. The PCs are normally not put to such a kind to workload.

Checklist for your assembled computer

WHILE buying an assembled computer, take care of the following to get the best deal for the money invested:

1) Choose an ATX motherboard if the computer is to be used for professional purpose An AT motherboard is sufficient for home use,

2) Insist on a higher RAM as it is critical for the computer's performance.

3) Avoid locally-made SMPS. The SMPS to be used in the computer should be of good quality. Most of the motherboards available, support USB ports. Be insistent as some of the dealers avoid installing these.

4) Make sure all ports are working properly, while purchasing a computer. This includes checking the USB port, PS2 port, 2 Com port and1 LPT port.

5) Check the compatibility of the hardware. All motherboards have PS2 port. So prefer a PS2 mouse, as it frees the com port, which can be utilised for various purposes.

6) As all hard disks available are ultra DMA, make sure that the disk connector is an Ultra DMA cable (66 lines connector).

7) Always remember to take the manual and the CD driver of your motherboard. These would be of great importance while upgrading.

8) Make sure the motherboard is properly installed. Ideally, an insulator-sheet should be used below the motherboard to ensure safety.

9) Make sure the CPU fan is of high quality.

—V.V.

Though in most of the PCs, primary IDE hard disk is used, a SCSI hard disk can also be installed if the price is not a limiting factor. A SCSI hard disk has a speed of 10,000 rpm, while the average speed of a primary IDE disk is 5400 rpm.

Normally, a primary IDE hard disk with a higher RAM and a better processor is preferred. This is indeed a good idea and in majority of cases, it works well. If you want to go a step further and opt for a hard disk with higher speed in primary IDE, then you get a good performance at a good price.

As against the normal speed of 5400 rpm, this high-speed primary IDE hard disk has the speed of 7200 rpm and is slightly expensive too. Hard disk is one component, which is not subjective to any limitation of upgradation; thereby meaning that with the next generation of processors (i.e. Pentium IV), the current motherboard and processor would become redundant while the hard disk would still remain usable.

Since this is a long-lasting thing always prefer a high-speed hard disk as ultimately the cost-benefit ratio works out in your favour.

One more point, which merits attention, is deriving the benefits of ultra DMA. Normally, advertisement describes the hard disk as Ultra DMA. Ask the dealer and he will mouth the same description.

But are you getting any benefit out of it or is this feature enabled. In 99 per cent cases, assembled computers are not ultra-DMA enabled and even if they are, they do not make use of it.

In order to use the Ultra DMA feature, a 66-line connector (popularly called an Ultra DMA cable) should be used, instead of a normal 33-line connector (which is actually a 40-line connector).

Connectors are the cables, which connects the hard disk with the motherboard. Normally the assemblers use a 33-line connector. This affects the performance of the computer. Since most of the end-users are not aware of this, they are never able to figure out where does the catch lie. Partition is another important point related to the hard disk. Partitions help in increasing the performance of a hard disk, as on a partitioned disk, a computer has to search a small area for seeking and searching tasks.

Opt for 3-tier partition in high capacity hard disks (like 20 GB or 30 GB), while for 10 GB or 15 GB hard disk dual partitions will do.Last but not the least, routine defragging of hard disk improves its performance as it arranges the data uniformly and enables the computer to search easily.