Friday, 5 August 2011

How to make a computer faster: 6 ways to speed up your PC

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer, help increase your PC speed, and help keep it running smoothly. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP Service Pack 3 to help make your computer faster, maintain your computer efficiently, and help safeguard your privacy when you're online.
Note: Some of the tools mentioned in this article require you to be logged on as an administrator. If you aren't logged on as an administrator, you can only change settings that apply to your user account.

1. Remove spyware, and help protect your computer from viruses

Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the websites you visit to user names and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using the PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare. This scan is a free service that helps check for and remove viruses.
Download Microsoft Security Essentials for free to help guard your system in the future from viruses, spyware, adware, and other malicious software (also known as malware). Microsoft Security Essentials acts as a spyware removal tool and includes automatic updates to help keep your system protected from emerging threats.
The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool is another utility that checks computers running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software, including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom, and helps remove any infection found.

2. Free up disk space

The Disk Cleanup tool helps you to free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:
  • Remove temporary Internet files.
  • Delete downloaded program files, such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets.
  • Empty the Recycle Bin.
  • Remove Windows temporary files, such as error reports.
  • Delete optional Windows components that you don't use.
  • Delete installed programs that you no longer use.
  • Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.
Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later.
To use Disk Cleanup:

Windows 7 users


  1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.
  2. When Disk Cleanup has calculated how much space you can free up, in the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list.

    Disk Cleanup dialog box
  3. Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.
    • For more options, such as cleaning up System Restore and Shadow copy files, under Description, click Clean up system files, and then click the More Options tab.
  4. When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes.
After a few minutes, the process completes and the Disk Cleanup dialog box closes, leaving your computer cleaner, performing better, and potentially increasing your PC speed.

Windows Vista users


  1. In the Start menu, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.
  2. In the Disk Cleanup Options dialog box, choose whether you want to clean up your own files only or all of the files on the computer.
  3. If the Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection dialog box appears, select the hard disk drive that you want to clean up, and then click OK.
  4. Click the Disk Cleanup tab, and then select the check boxes for the files you want to delete.
  5. When you finish selecting the files you want to delete, click OK, and then, to confirm the operation, click Delete files. Disk Cleanup then removes all unnecessary files from your computer. This may take a few minutes.
The More Options tab is available when you choose to clean files from all users on the computer.

Windows XP users


  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

    Disk Cleanup dialog box
  2. In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list.

    Disk Cleanup dialog box
  3. Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.
  4. When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes.
After a few minutes, the process completes and the Disk Cleanup dialog box closes, leaving your computer cleaner and potentially performing better.

3. Speed up access to data

Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk as a file is opened (to piece it back together). The response time can be significantly longer.
Disk Defragmenter (sometimes shortened to Defrag by users) is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end to end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.
When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals (weekly is optimal), there are other times you should run it, too, such as when:
  • You add a large number of files.
  • Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
  • You install new programs or a new version of the Windows operating system.
To use Disk Defragmenter:

Windows 7 users


  1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.

    Disk Defragmenter dialog box, with the Configure schedule button selected
  2. In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment, and then click the Analyze disk button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears, letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

    Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.
  3. To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment disk button. In the Current status area, under the Progress column, you can monitor the process as it happens. After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.
  4. To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.
  5. To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.
  6. You can also schedule the Disk Defragmenter to run automatically. (Your computer might even be set up this way by default.) Under Schedule, it reads Scheduled defragmentation is turned on and then displays the time of day and frequency of defragmentation. If you want to turn off automatic defragmentation or to change the time or frequency, click Configure schedule (or Turn on Schedule, if it is not currently configured to run automatically). Change the settings, and then click OK.
  7. To close the Disk Defragmenter utility, on the title bar of the window, click the Close button.

Windows Vista users


  1. Open Disk Defragmenter: Click the Start button, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  2. In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment and then click the Analyze disk button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

    Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.
  3. To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment disk button. In the Current status area, under the Progress column, you can monitor the process as it happens. After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.
  4. To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.
  5. To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.
  6. You can also schedule the Disk Defragmenter to run automatically. (Your computer might be set up this way by default.) Click Modify schedule....
  7. In the Disk Defragmenter: Modify Schedule dialog box, choose how often, which day, and at what time of day you want defragmentation to occur, and then click OK.
  8. Click OK again.

Windows XP users


  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.

    Disk Defragmenter dialog box, showing possible disks to defragment
  2. In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment and then click the Analyze button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears, letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

    Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.
  3. To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment button. Note: In Windows Vista, there is no graphical user interface to demonstrate the progress—but your hard drive is still being defragmented.

    After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.
  4. To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.
  5. To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.
  6. To close the Disk Defragmenter utility, on the title bar of the window, click the Close button.
Running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter on a regular basis is a proven way to help keep your computer running quickly and efficiently. If you'd like to learn how to schedule these tools and others to run automatically, please read Speed up your PC: Automate your computer maintenance schedule.

4. Detect and repair disk errors

In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.
As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.
If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

Run the Error Checking utility:


  1. Close all open files.
  2. Click Start, and then click Computer.
  3. In the Computer window (My Computer in Windows XP), right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
  4. In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
  5. Click the Check Now button.
  6. In the Check Disk dialog box (called Error-checking in Windows 7), select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.

    Check Disk Local Disk dialog box, with the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box selected
  7. If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.
Tip: Only select the "Automatically fix file system errors" check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.

5. Learn about ReadyBoost

If you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory.

6.  Upgrade  to  Windows 7

If you try all the previous remedies and your computer still isn't as fast as you would like it to be, you may want to consider updating to Windows 7.
If the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor determines that your computer can't run Windows 7 and you still have the need for speed, it might be time for a new computer. There are some great deals on new computers right now:

diy hardware installation feature Smarterware how to
By Gina Trapani Feb 11, 2009 9:00 AM 569,484 338

The First-Timer’s Guide to Building a Computer from Scratch

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If you've never done it before, the idea of building a computer from the ground up can seem very intimidating—but it's one of the most satisfying projects a tech enthusiast can take on. Being more of a software gal than a hardware geek myself, I was the only Lifehacker editor who had never built a PC from scratch. So when I needed a new PC late last year, I took the plunge and built my custom system. I'm so glad I did—the project turned out to be one of my proudest accomplishments of 2008. If you've cracked open your PC before to install a new hard drive or TV capture card, but you've never built a whole new system from the ground up, it's not as difficult as you might think. Here are my notes for first-timers who want to build instead of buy their next computer.
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Why Build Instead of Buy

"But computers are so cheap these days," you say. "Why waste the time and energy building your own system when you can get a great machine fully assembled and shipped to your door?" That's a great question. Building your own PC will not save you time. It might save you money, but that's not even the best reason to do it. For me, it was a fantastic hands-on educational experience. It gives me a deep sense of satisfaction every single day when I press the power button on my tower, watch it light up, and know that I plugged in the wire that goes from that light to the motherboard. Building your PC takes the mystery out of what's going on inside that black box you spend hours on per day.
There are other good reasons to build instead of buy, too. With your own build you can customize your system just how you like and make your perfect media center or gaming machine. You can save money if you already have some parts (though see my warnings on the dangers of a "Frankenbuild" below). Upgrading your PC in the future becomes easier and cheaper since your parts aren't tied to a particular manufacturer. With a custom build you can do fun stuff like overclock your CPU and get more bang for your buck, or install OS X where it was never intended to run.
In short, building your own PC makes you feel like a badass.

What You're Getting Into

Don't get me wrong, though: building a PC (for the first time especially) takes research, time, gumption, patience, and a willingness to deal with several WTF moments. If you've never cracked a PC's case and installed parts, like a new hard drive or a video card, start there first. If you've got that experience under your belt, you might think that building a new PC is just a matter of snapping together a few parts. It is, but building from the ground up takes much more than an hour or two. My build took two full days, one online order, one returned motherboard, two trips to Fry's, one condescending sneer from a sales associate when I asked a newb question, and one trip to Radio Shack. If that sounds like a lot, well, it was, and there were moments in the process when I wished I'd just bought a Dell. But when it finally all came together, all the sweat makes the results even sweeter.
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Where to Start: Researching and Buying Your Parts

You scared off yet? No? Good. Let's get down to it. There are a gadzillion articles on the internet about building your own PC, but many are way out of date, or just don't get specific about what exactly you should buy. When I had to start researching what parts to purchase, of course I turned to savvy Lifehacker readers to help me out. Several readers mentioned Ars Technica's excellent system buyer's guide, which breaks down exactly what parts you'd want for one of three levels of computer: a "budget box," a "hot rod," or a "God box." The 2008 guide published last fall; make sure you use the most recent one when you start your research. I started by plugging parts from Ars' "hot rod" system list into Newegg to get a sense of price and see if there were any deals, coupons or upgrades. In the end I didn't use Ars' exact recommendations, but it was an awesome, up-to-date, jumping-off point.
Your research into parts is the most important stage of the process. For first-timers it can be bewildering, and you will have questions. Just keep reading, take notes, consult with forums or sales associates, and remember that if you make the wrong purchase you can always return it for the right one. In the photo to the left you'll see my build's case, motherboard, power supply, CPU, and RAM. (I had a video card, DVD drive, and a hard drive from an old machine I planned to use in my new build.)
See this entire comment thread for more resources on deciding what parts to buy for your budget.

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Get Down and Dirty

Once you've got your hot little hands on all the parts you need, the real fun begins. There are two stages to your build: the hardware stage, and the software stage. Adam's already covered how to install each individual hardware component. Here's the list:
Once you've got everything plugged in and mounted inside your case, leave the case sides off and plug in your keyboard, mouse, monitor, and power, and press the On button. This is the moment of truth. The first time you see the lights come on and the system setup appear on-screen, you'll feel like you've just arrived at the top of Mount Everest.
If the machine doesn't power on, or there's no video signal, or the keyboard doesn't work—just unplug everything and check your connections. It took me a few hair-pulling, teeth-gnashing attempts to get my new build to boot properly. If it doesn't work the first time, take a breath, unplug it all, and try again. Don't cry; that won't help.
Once you're into the machine's BIOS setup, key around and make sure the motherboard recognizes your DVD or CD drive and your hard drive. You'll need those working in order to install your operating system. Everything there? Now set your boot sequence to check your optical drive first. Insert your operating system's disc into your CD or DVD drive, and restart the machine. Now your operating system's setup will launch on boot, and you can install away.
In the meantime, blast very loud rock music, strut about the vicinity, arms upraised, and revel in your greatness.

Mistakes I Made That You Can Avoid

When you build your first PC, keep a few things in mind I wished I'd realized before I started.
  • Beware of the "Frankenbuild." A great way to save money on your new PC is using parts that you've already got around. But I was overly optimistic about what items from my very old Dell tower would work in my new system. I assumed my hard drive would work (it did, but it was an IDE drive, which I wound up replacing with a faster SATA model), I hoped my video card would work (it didn't), and I thought my DVD drive would work (it did). In the end I wound up buying parts I thought I'd be able to reuse, so my total price wasn't as low as my initial estimate.
  • Expect mishaps. I bought the wrong motherboard. Well, not the wrong one, but one that didn't have a FireWire port, which I wanted. Well, I had a FireWire card, but it didn't fit into the motherboard. Anyway, I figured all this out after I installed the CPU, which meant I had to remove it from the board, break the thermal compound seal, and ship the motherboard back. When I got the new motherboard and reinstalled the CPU, because the thermal compound left there didn't work anymore, the machine would start and within 10 seconds overheat and shut itself off. Next thing you know I'm scraping hardened thermal compound off the CPU with Goof Off and a credit card, and reapplying fresh from a tube I had to pick up from Radio Shack. Lesson: there will be mishaps. Expect crap to go wrong. Be confident in your ability to fix it after you Google the solution to the problem hundreds of people have had before you did.
  • Read the frakkin' manual. With years of tinkering in my PC's case under my belt, I went into my build eager to start working and only skimmed the user guides and online howto's before I started. Don't do that. Open and read the full-on manual that comes in the box with every single one of your parts. If you're not sure about something said manual includes, do your research before you plug anything in.
  • Buy locally if you can. My initial parts order was from Newegg, which was great price-wise, but really sucked when I had to return my motherboard, because I had to pay shipping fees and a restocking fee. With a Fry's down the road, I regretted not just buying everything at the store itself from the get-go to to make returns easier.
  • Give yourself lots of time. I wrongly assumed I'd be able to finish my build in a day, but it took two whole days and stressed me out because they were work days. Don't build a new PC when you're on deadline or otherwise pinched for time. Give yourself a whole weekend and a clean and spacious work area that you can leave filled with packing debris and electronic parts strewn about for a few days.

Have you built your own PC? Are you considering taking the leap? Let us know how it went or what you're thinking in the comments.
Gina Trapani, Lifehacker's founding editor, loves turning on her new PC every single day. Her new weekly feature, Smarterware, appears every Wednesday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Smarterware tag feed to get new installments in your newsreader.
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Virus Generation Tools - The Dark Aspects of Programming

Anyone who has ever had to combat malicious code on their computer wonders about the people who make computer viruses. And while most of us don't want to do it, we can't help but wonder about the process,
about how to create a computer virus. The popularity of this questionable activity is such that software exists to allow people to make email viruses or create computer virus code with little or no programming knowledge. The following are examples of such "kits."

VCS (Virus Construction Set)
VCS, published in Germany in 1990, was the first software to be created exclusively for the purpose of creating viruses. It is available in both English and German versions and is responsible for approximately fifteen virus variants.
GenVirus
Originally marketed by a Frenchman as an anti-virus evaluation tool, a cracked version by the virus authoring group NuKE appeared in 1993. Approximately ten viruses produced by GenVirus are known to exist.
VCL (Virus Creation Library)
VCL is one of the better known virus creation tools. It generates source assembler files, OBJ modules, and infected master files. Through a menu selection process a wide variety of options can be incorporated to create viruses that append their code to files, overwrite them, or use companion technology.
PS-MPC (Phalcon-Skism Mass-Produced Code Generator)
Created by the American virus authoring group, Phalcon-Skism, in particular the member Dark Angel, PS-MPC has no user interface but rather operates through an ASCII configuration file. It can create memory-resident viruses to affect both COM and EXE files and provides a versatile encryption layer. PS-MPC is responsible for the creation of hundreds of viruses.
NGVC (Next Generation Virus Construktion Kit)
This kit, the work of SnakeByte, first appeared in the Matrix N3 zine. It infects Win32 PE-Executable files. All viruses created by the package are different in structure and opcode making it impossible to catch all variants with one scan string.
VBSWG Kit
The VBSWG Kit was the first advanced VBS work creation package developed by [K]alamar in Argentina. It was not a highly successful program. The viruses and worms created with it did not work. The kit featured a standard Windows user interface.
NRLG (NuKE's Randomic Life Generator)
Authored by Azrael is a virus creation tool originated in Argentina. To make computer viruses it uses a simple and friendly interface and has been responsible for producing hundreds of viruses, all detectable by modern anti-virus software scanners.

Continue to : Create Computer Virus with Macros and Scripts

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Is Your PC Safe From Computer Viruses?
Help Your Antivirus Detect Viruses - Get New Virus Definitions
Precautionary Measures To Stop Internet Worms Before They Stop Your System!
What Went Wrong - How Did my System Get Infected with a Virus?
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How To Speed Up A Computer – Top 5 Ways

Download
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how to speed up a laptop computer, I’d… well, I’d have enough to buy a nice dinner, and half of those dollars would have come from my well-intentioned brother. Without entirely realizing what he’s doing, he clicks and downloads his way to a very slow computer.
Whether it’s a desktop or a laptop, my steps are the same.
1. Reboot.
I want to see what I’m working with. If the computer is running properly, just slowly, this will be a simple step. Let’s assume that this is the case.
2. Scan for viruses.
If I have a virus scanner on the machine, I run it fresh. If this scanner has been doing its job, I shouldn’t find anything. On the other hand, if I don’t have a virus scanner readily available, I visit the web and choose one of the several well-reputed online scans.
But be careful! Not all online scans are safe. Follow the advice of a professional, or heed some trustworthy reviews.
Once the computer has been scanned and cleaned, I move on.
3. Scan for malware.
This is a step that many people skip, often because they don’t understand what malware is, or that there are scanners for it. Malware’s job is to make our lives harder, and it’s an enormous drain on system resources. In my experience, nine times out of ten these malware scans yield serious results.
Download
Generally speaking, malware won’t be detected by virus scanners. Viruses and malware function differently from one another, and it’s important to scan for both separately. There are many softwares available that can scan for malware, some free, but just as with virus scanners, it’s important to beware. Some of these scanners are themselves malware. Again, follow credible recommendations when choosing a scanner.
When I know the computer is clean, I reboot it again, and then:
4. Stop unnecessary items from launching at start-up.
If you bought a pre-manufactured computer, and if you’ve spent any time at all downloading program upgrades or handy gadgets to run in the background on your computer, chances are that your computer didn’t stand a chance. Dozens of programs could be launching themselves as your computer boots up, and these seemingly-insignificant programs add up to a very slow machine. So when I’m trying to speed up a computer, this is an important step.
Each operating system handles start-up programs a little differently. If I need to speed up a HP M8100N computer or speed up a Sony RA computer, for instance, I will need to find out which operating system I’m running and act accordingly. When in doubt, consult a guide!
Finally, I conclude with:
5. Defragment.
With processor speeds being what they are today, defragmentation is perhaps as much habit and tradition as processing time-saver. Nevertheless, it’s a reasonable step to take when cleaning up a computer.
Using only these five steps, I have tremendous success, and I think you will, too.
Find more ways to speed up computer.



How To » Computers & Internet » Hardware » Desktops » How To Make Your Computer Faster: Registry Cleaner, Improving PC Performance

How To Make Your Computer Faster: Registry Cleaner, Improving PC Performance

If your computer is running slow, boost performance with this free PC maintenance process!

By M.E. Brennan
It happens to all of us. You buy a new computer, you set it up, you turn it on, and it blows you away with its blazing speed. Then a year passes, then another, and pretty soon it seems like you're mired in crashes, slowdowns, that dreaded Mac beach ball, a PC that takes ages to start up, or a computer that hangs in limbo when you try to shut it down. You’re left wondering, “How do I make my computer faster?” In the past, instead of trying to make your computer run faster, you might have just bought a new computer. But in this economy you can’t just purchase a new computer if yours is running too slow. Isn't there a way to speed up a computer without spending an arm and a leg?
Yes. There are many slow computer solutions available to help your machine run faster. From basic housekeeping to increasing your RAM, these computer tips and tricks will help you learn how to make your computer faster.
Do Some Housekeeping
Whether you have a Mac, a PC, or even a Linux box, if you haven't done regular maintenance since you got your computer, there likely are a lot of simple things you can do to increase computer speed.
“If your PC is running slow,” says PC and security expert Robert McMillan, who has written about computer technology (including ways to speed up a computer) since 1996, “uninstall apps that you're not using. See what's running in the background and remove it if you don't need it. Think about uninstalling Java. That's a major resource hog, and often a big security risk too.” So if you’re asking yourself, “How can you speed up your computer?” assess all the unnecessary programs you have running when your computer gets started.
Don’t worry about spending a lot of money because you can learn how to speed up a PC for free. There are plenty of free and built-in utilities for Windows housekeeping if your computer is running slow. Startup Delayer, a free download at http://download.cnet.com/Startup-Delayer/3000-2344_4-10068235.html?tag=mncol;txt, delays programs that may be bogging down your startup time. If you find programs you never use—useless or unwanted stuff bloating your system—it’s always a good idea to uninstall it for good to get a faster computer (Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs).
For the programs you decide to keep, Startup Delayer staggers their launch time so that your computer is faster when it starts. The selected programs run in the background after your machine is already booted, giving you a faster PC. It also lets you easily remove programs entirely from startup (without deleting them from your system). If your computer is running slow, keep in mind that many programs launch by default at startup so that they can constantly scan the Internet for updates, which is not necessarily something you want them to do.
On Windows machines, there are also built-in utilities to make a PC faster. Disk Cleanup can speed up your PC by getting rid of clutter. All those temporary Internet and Windows files, downloads you no longer need and trash you never empty all make your computer run slower. Disk Defragmenter consolidates chopped up files on your computer's hard drive, to make your computer run faster.
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In general, Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools will take you to these tools to fix a slow computer. Microsoft offers detailed online instructions on using these and other potentially speed-enhancing utilities to make a computer run faster—no matter what versions of Windows you’re using. For more information about how to make your PC faster for free, check out http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/maintenance/speed.aspx.
In your search for how to make your computer faster, you may have come across many online sources for what are known as registry cleaners. Unfortunately, a lot of these products are bogus programs that cost money and can actually damage your computer rather than making a computer faster. Microsoft itself has sued several producers of this so-called “scareware” to get them out of the marketplace, but many simply reappear under a different name. A registry cleaner purports to be a tool for inspecting and repairing the Windows registry—all of these tools are marketed to Windows users—and typically targets users by preying on their vulnerability. (They may have ads saying, “Are you wondering, ‘How can I make my computer faster?’ Let us fix your slow computer for free!”) Another typical tactic is persistent popups claiming to help make your PC faster. These popups may appear even on legitimate sites, and almost invariably contain alarming messages about your computer running slow or needing repairs. Back away from them by shutting down your browser—Alt F4 will close it—if necessary. Do NOT click on these popups. They will most likely harm your computer rather than improve PC performance.
Not all registry cleaners are bogus, but they should all be approached with extreme caution, and ONLY downloaded from trusted sites. “Some are legitimate,” says Robert McMillan,” but they're kind of like diet pills. They promise you a quick fix for something that often cannot be quickly fixed.” Tinkering with your Windows registry (whether to make your computer faster or for some other reason) is inherently dangerous—you can cause serious damage. If you want to know how to fix a slow computer, it’s not something to be attempted by a beginner. A legitimate (and free) registry tool, such as CCleaner (http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/) also offers other utilities which may make a computer run faster (including getting rid of temporary files and managing startup options).
Tools for Mac and Linux
If you don’t own a PC, you may be asking, “How can I make my Mac computer faster?” Don’t worry; there are ways to speed up your computer for free if it’s a Mac, too. When it comes to Macs, many people get in the bad habit of leaving their Macs in sleep mode because it is so easy to do. Macs are hard-wired to run cleanup maintenance scripts in the early morning—but if they are always asleep or shut down, the scripts don't run, which can create a backlog of junk that can lead to slow computer problems. If you're fairly savvy at using the Terminal prompt you can run these scripts manually which may help you speed up your computer. You can find the instructions here: http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/maintscripts.html. Better yet, a free utility like Onyx will help make your computer run faster.
Onyx also assists with other cleanup, maintenance and optimization tasks, including showing you what programs you're actually starting up every time you turn on your computer which can help you identify where to start to fix a slow running computer. (Again, you may be loading things into memory that you never use.) The Onyx site (http://www.titanium.free.fr/index.php) offers downloads for most recent Mac software and hardware configurations, including Snow Leopard, Leopard, Tiger, Panther and even Jaguar.
For Linux machines, a free computer speed-up program (well, almost all Linux programs are free) called kleansweep assists in removing unnecessary files that may be taking up space and draining system resources. To fix a slow computer with kleansweep, check out http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/linux/KleanSweep-Review-38406.shtml. A program called PreLoad (http://sourceforge.net/projects/preload/) can also help a slow computer run faster because it improves overall performance on Linux machines, putting unused RAM to use.
Streamlined software alternatives can also make your Linux computer faster. If you only need basic word processing, don't use OpenOffice with its many features. A program with a smaller footprint like Koffice (http://www.koffice.org/) will be snappier and keep your computer running faster. If you’re wondering how to make your Internet faster, Opera is lighter weight than Firefox. If you're running Ubuntu (a popular version of Linux) you can speed up your boot time by fine-tuning the process with Boot-up-Manager, available for download at linux.com (http://www.linux.com/directory/Software/Boot-Up-Manager/details).
Use Common Sense
When you ask yourself how to make my computer faster, there are some basic actions you can take. Here are some of the simplest and easiest tips for slow computer troubleshooting. If you have ten programs open, you're going to be sucking a lot of resources from your CPU, causing it to run slowly. If you're not using a program—close it. The same goes for having many windows open in your web browser, or having many photos open at once in a program like PhotoShop.
I have to confess that this is one of my own worst habits. When learning how to make a computer faster, you should also learn to check your available memory. Just for fun you can press CTL-ALT-DEL on your Windows machine, then click the performance tab, and view available memory. Open a couple of basic programs—word processing software, say, and a web browser—then open PhotoShop (or another memory-intensive program) and open six or seven of those beautiful pictures you took on vacation, and watch what happens to your CPU usage and your available memory. Now you can see why your computer is running slow.
MenuMeters (http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/10451/menumeters), a free program for Mac, is a nifty little tool that supplies CPU and activity monitoring. It can clean your Mac and is thereby free software to speed up your computer. While there are other ways to clean a Mac to make it run faster, MenuMeters is a popular little add-on.
If you have a lot of large files—a video, photo or extensive music collection, for example—consider keeping them on a separate drive so your computer can run faster. When learning how to make a computer faster, keep in mind that your operating system—Mac, PC or anything else—will slow significantly if it's on a drive with little available free space. You can fix computer slow downs by using external hard drives. When buying a separate external drive, it will be worth it to spend a little bit extra and get a faster drive (7200 vs 5400 on a Mac, for example). Keep your machine updated—whatever your OS is—because this will assure that you're getting the latest updates, security patches and bug fixes which may help speed up a slow computer.
Spyware and Malware
One of the best things you can do to learn how to make a computer faster is to guard against malware, which comes in so many constantly evolving variations that it's all but impossible to keep up with.
Viruses, scareware, trojans, bots, rootkits, worms, spyware, adware—it’s all bad junk, and professionals call it malware (malicious software). Malware can help slow a computer down. For a home user, the course of transmission is through the Internet—whether by clicking a link in an infected e-mail, being attacked through a browser vulnerability, or simply visiting a malicious Web site. Unfortunately for Windows users, they have always been the primary targets of malicious software.
“The vast majority of malicious activity today targets Windows PCs, so Mac and Linux users can rightfully feel a sense of security superiority when they're on the Internet,” says Robert McMillan. “It takes time to write these computer attacks, and if the bad guys feel they'll get a lot more victims by writing something that works on Windows XP, then that's what they're going to do. That said, we're seeing some interest in the Mac platform these days. There are a few Mac Trojan horse programs out there, but they're currently not much of a threat. However, if Apple's market share keeps growing, it's only a matter of time before Mac users really start getting hit, too.” So it’s not just PC users who have to worry about how to fix a slow computer that’s caused by malware.
While malware can do tremendous damage to entire systems as it spreads, one of the likeliest and most visible consequences to an unwitting home user may be aggravating slow downs. Not only do you want to get rid of the malware, but you also want to learn how to make a computer run faster.
If the previously mentioned ways to speed up your computer don’t work, fortunately there are many quality anti-virus programs available to help your computer run more quickly.
Writer and author Neil Rubenking is an Advisory Board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization. He writes regularly for PC Magazine, and his recent article (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp) ranks the current selection of free and paid anti-malware programs available for Windows users to help you learn how to make a PC faster. On the list are a range of choices for both cleanup and prevention. “A product should do both,” says Rubenking.
There are companies that now make anti-virus and anti-spyware products for Macs that can repair a slow computer. Sophos (www.sophos.com) is one of them; it recently announced its discovery of the nasty-sounding, but apparently not particularly dangerous, “Blackhole RAT,” a Trojan aimed at Macs. (Sophos offers a free anti-virus program for Mac home users: http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/free-mac-anti-virus/.)
It’s very important to protect your computer from malware, but, surprisingly, it probably isn’t necessary to spend money because you can find a free computer speed-up program out there.
“If I were a Mac user, I probably wouldn't buy AV (anti-virus software) right now,” explains McMillan. “But then I wouldn't pay for it on my PC either. The anti-virus industry's dirty little secret is that you really don't need to buy AV any more, especially if you avoid risky behavior online. Avoiding open Wi-Fi, risky sites and questionable documents, keeping your software patched, and using free AV such as Microsoft's OneCare (http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/technologies/onecare/default.mspx) or AVG (http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage) will do a lot to keep you secure.” Learning how to make your computer fast doesn’t have to cost you a lot of cash.
There are a number of other highly regarded free sources of protection (see Neil Rubenking’s detailed article above); many of them also offer maintenance utilities which will help make the computer faster and keep it running smoothly on other fronts.
Linux machines are currently the safest of the three major operating systems. But there is malware out there that affects Linux and could have you searching for ways to make your computer run faster. However, while experts don't all agree, many discount the likely harm of widespread damage from Linux malware.
Individual users, however, may be able to cause damage to their own systems, a point worth noting since many Netbooks shipped to newbies came equipped with various flavors of Linux (Red Hat, Fedora, Ubuntu). “It's possible for someone brand-new to Linux to work hard to overcome various built-in system protections, fetch off the Internet a program written to hurt Linux systems, run it with root-user ('God'-user) authority, and thereby damage or subvert the system so it needs to be shut down and rebuilt,” says senior system administrator and well-known Linux expert Rick Moen. However, “There are features throughout the system to discourage such actions.”
It certainly is possible that some day as Linux gets more popular among consumers, hackers will be more interested in writing malicious code directed at it, but it may not be aimed at laptops or desktops. Even today Linux—long regarded as a programmer's language and not really for the average user—is the engine inside many incredibly popular consumer appliances, not just computers.
“Every single TiVo has a full-blown Linux computer under the hood,” says Moen. “Ditto many smartphones, many PDAs, most residential Wi-Fi gateway routers, and even IBM's Watson supercomputer that just won the Jeopardy playoff. Somehow, one never hears that regular users will never be able to figure out a TiVo—but then, many of the most ubiquitous Linux devices, such as TiVos, get perceived as somehow not even being computers at all.”
While there are lots of free resources for preventing malware, that won’t make you feel much better if you’re already infected and battling time-consuming popups, browser hijacks, or worse. At that point you just want to know how to speed up your computer.
The Microsoft Malware Protection center offers tools for determining if you're infected, and a 24-hour hotline for security and virus issues: 1-866-PCSafety (1-866-727-2338) or you can visit the Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/. Clearing these issues up can definitely make a computer run faster.
There are also a number of free online forums moderated by experts, which can help you diagnose and treat your problem. Spyware Info Forum (http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/) and the LandzDown forum (http://www.landzdown.com/) are good places to start.
While getting rid of malware and doing some computer housekeeping may provide some slow computer fixes, that’s not all you’ll need to do to speed up your PC, Mac or Linux computer. You can also learn how to make your computer faster by adjusting some hardware issues.
Increase Your Memory
One of the simplest and most effective ways to get a faster computer, particularly if it's a bit older and has less than two gigabytes of RAM, is simply to add more. When learning how to speed up your computer, “Spend your money on memory,” says Robert McMillan.
RAM (random access memory) is what your computer uses to read and write data—to follow your instructions and make your programs run. If you want to learn how to increase computer speed, you’ll need enough RAM. When you don't have enough RAM for the task at hand, the computer is forced to do what's called “paging”—essentially borrowing memory from your hard drive. This borrowed memory is much slower than RAM memory, and the process used to access it can slow your computer to a crawl.
If you have less than two gigabytes of RAM, adding RAM will likely significantly speed up a slow PC or Mac. If you already have two gigabytes or more of RAM, additional memory may improve performance for memory-intensive tasks and programs (like video editing, gaming or using PhotoShop); however, you may not see dramatic improvement in day-to-day tasks like web surfing or word processing.
You can't just add any memory chip to your computer. If you want to know how to make your computer run faster, the RAM you add must be compatible with what you are already using, and it must fit the slot available. There are many different types of RAM depending on the age, OS and hardware you're using. Memory seller Crucial (www.crucial.com) offers a simple free tool that will scan your system to let you know what kind of memory to buy, how much you can add to your system and how many slots are available. You can then buy the RAM directly from Crucial, or shop around. NewEgg and Frys.com offer discounted RAM from quality suppliers.
When figuring out how to speed up a slow computer, it is important to buy and use high-quality RAM—look for brands like Hynix, Samsung, Nanya, Micron, Crucial and Kingston. If you have a Mac, you probably already know that RAM is very high-priced when bought through Apple. Mac RAM Direct (www.macramdirect.com) offers the same premium RAM from the same suppliers (Apple doesn't manufacture its own RAM), usually at a significant discount, and it comes with a lifetime replacement warranty. In many cases, the RAM you buy here for older Macs will make your computer run faster than the RAM that came from Apple originally.
Installing RAM can be a very simple process even for the technologically impaired, and there are many guides out there. However, some computers (smaller laptops, usually) have RAM tucked away in inaccessible places, making installation too intimidating for a newbie.
Apple offers detailed instructions on its Web site (e.g. this is a tutorial for the MacBook: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1651) for upgrading RAM (even for old iBooks and Powerbooks) to make a computer run faster. Simply search in the Apple support forums for your make and model. The extensive site Macrumors (http://guides.macrumors.com/Buying_RAM) also offers detailed computer tips and guides to buying, installing and testing RAM.
If you’re learning how to make a PC run faster by adding RAM, PCWorld has a nice straightforward tutorial (http://www.pcworld.com/article/157676/how_to_upgrade_your_ram.html) for upgrading RAM in a desktop. Always remember to work safely—your computer must be turned off and battery removed (if it is a laptop) before attempting any upgrade.
Are you more concerned with how to make your Internet faster rather than your actual computer? To make the Internet faster, a good place to start is a basic bandwidth speed test: Check out services like this one at McAfee: http://us.mcafee.com/root/speedometer/default.asp. (Be careful to use a trusted source for this kind of testing—bogus bandwidth testing sites are also frequent lurking places for scareware.) If you're paying for high-speed Internet and bandwidth tests show you’re not getting it consistently, using these tricks to speed up a computer won't help. Call your Internet provider to complain and ask, “How to make my Internet faster.”
Tips on Malware
When learning how to make a computer run faster, it is advisable to install a quality anti-virus or anti-spyware program from a trusted (and free, ideally) source; however, more is not better. If more than one such real-time program is installed on your computer, you may generate conflicts rather than create a computer speed-up solution. Choose a single quality program and keep it up to date. Keep your system updated as well.
If you’re asking, “How to make my computer faster?” know that prevention is always best. Experts advise that p2p (peer-to-peer) networks are notoriously risky when it comes to malware, as are open Wi-Fi connections. Files with .EXE, .DOC, .PDF are also more likely to be dangerous—in general it's best not to open any attachment you receive online, even from a friend, unless you are expecting it. Robert McMillan wrote a great article in PCWorld (http://www.pcworld.com/article/201309/security_secrets_the_bad_guys_dont_want_you_to_know.html) for advanced users detailing some advanced protection tactics that will help you remember how to speed up a computer. Don’t worry; you’re not being paranoid. They are out to get you. 




How To Make A Computer - The first thing to look for when buying a computer - this is the case. Housing and a good power supply - is the most important thing in the computer. A good body should have the right cooling system, consisting of: a fan blowing hard drives (compartments should not be above the fan, and before him, so that the air blew over the top and bottom) and a fan extracting hot air from the case.

The main source of noise - it is the fans and what they are smaller, the more noise from them. The reason is that in order to convey the necessary amount of air, fans of smaller diameter to do more speed and more speed, the more your fan sounds like a vacuum cleaner. The optimum size of fan for cooling - 120 mm. So air blow not required for high-speed air injection, and hence the noise from them at least. Moreover, it is desirable that the power supply to your body was the same 120 mm fan.

There is at least one, and often the three most powerful source of noise is the CPU fan, the fan on the chipset of the motherboard and graphics card fan. Prevent noise from the CPU fan is quite simple - not enough to save on the acquire fan (and usually the sellers are trying to install a computer that comes bundled with the processor, or the cheapest). Now on sale is the CPU fans from different species, there is even a diameter of 120 mm.

Fans chipset motherboard, usually go to if the motherboard is cheap, either because their performance is strongly heated. Here's your choice - you can painstakingly make to demonstrate the appearance fees and from the favorite pick with the desired characteristics, and can advance to learn about it from the descriptions and reviews on the Internet. Alternatively, in extreme cases, if you want to do has already bought a computer quieter - there is a set of radiators for chipsets. They are higher and more massive, which improves heat transfer, and the presence in the housing 120 mm fans provide sufficient traction to mounted radiators do not overheat.

With the fans on video cards more difficult, they are not only "cut off" low-powered models. And those that are supplied, often noisy. Substitution of an alternate cooling leads to warranty. There will have to sacrifice something. Or money - to buy an expensive card with a good and quiet cooling. Or guarantee, and put on your own risk alternative cooling system.

Also add that additional noise sources in the cabinet are "venting" holes, which are attached to ventilators. If they are cut in a metal casing, the noise from them will be higher. Most silent lattice made of round steel wire and attached to the fans and the body separately.


How To Make A Computer
How to Make a Computer – To Work Faster In this modern age computers are getting more common. In the fast world however, you want your lives to not only be improved, but also to go faster to do things quickly. One of such things is particularly when your computer begins to decelerate in its ability and functions. In today's world computers are the daily friend and you do practically most of your job in it and for it to not function quickly or maximum capacity, it irritates you. You may be wondering how to make a computer function faster and speed up your work. The first thing you can do is upgrade the RAM of the computer. If you have reason to consider that your computer is too old and its components need an update, you may want to think about RAM upgrading to give your computer more available memory. However, you should only do this if you already know that a memory lack is the cause of your computer speed problems. Upgrading memory is now become inexpensive. Secondly deal with your computer's registry section. The computer's registry section is not commonly well-known amongst users but it does play a vital role that may be the reason for your computer decelerating.
This section contains loads of files named “registry keys” that initiates your computer how it should run. Sometimes if you have not used your computer for long then it might slow down due file corruptions. How you should handle such a problem is to immediately download the PC cleaner software and scan through your computer to discover whether there are registry errors and if there are fix your computer's registry. False entries are another cause for registry problems. Moreover, even after viruses and spyware scanning it leaves behind lots of false entries in such cases you also have to run a “registry cleaner” to make sure your computer is functioning faster. Thirdly stop having multiple programs in your system. For example, an individual at work may be using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel together with many websites pages while researching and chatting at the same time. If you are thinking how to make a computer function faster then check all the above mentioned aspects in your system and correct it. Every computer has its restrictions and if you go beyond the limit, it would cause it to slow down and hinder your work.
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Make Your Computer Talk

Posted on February 22, 2011 by dbrisson
Now, this is an interesting little feature. Windows comes with a feature that can be tweaked and used to make your computer talk. With this cool feature, your computer will say whatever you tell it to say. You just need to utilize the built in API install on most computers running the Windows XP. The program that allows your computer to talk to you is called Speech Application Programming Interface (SAPI). This little speech API from Microsoft is what the computer uses to ...

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How To Make A Computer Run Faster

Posted on February 9, 2011 by dbrisson
Computers are one of the most important electronic appliances that we use today. They are widely in use all around the globe from homes to offices to schools, colleges and universities. Most of the work done these days is on the computer and hence, computers are immensely important to every person living in the modern world. It seems as if the world is dependent on computers and is surviving only because of them. As of now, even the cities are being managed in computerized manner, so much so ...

Posted in Uncategorized

How To Make A Computer Faster

Posted on February 7, 2011 by dbrisson
Computers are superb devices that allow us to do numerous things. Computer can get slow after sometimes. "Why is the computer sluggish? How to make a computer faster? Follow the steps for improvement in your computer performance. Run the Windows XP. This is done mainly to refresh the registry. Download Microsoft's Adaware, Anti-Spyware program and Spybot Explore and Destroy.
 




How to build a computer
MY SUPER PC
How To Build A PC - A Computer Building Guide
Rob Williams - contact via the forums
Last Updated: 8/3/2011
 		How to build a computer
Making PCWorld's "Best Free Stuff On The Web Guide - 101 Great Sites" as the favorite Build A PC site!



What You Need To Build A Computer

You can build a computer that's affordable, high-quality, and with eye-popping performance like My Super PC! If you're thinking of building your own PC and you'd like to see specific recommendations for components, actual costs, tutorials on how to assemble, help with BIOS and driver settings, what performance results you should expect, and all of this information for free - then you're at the right site! This site is dedicated to help you in building your own computer. So Welcome! It's good to have you here to share my experiences researching and building My Super PC. The information on these pages should streamline your research and save you hours of time, a fair amount of money, and you'll end up building your own super computer. Although technology changes quickly, I update this site frequently to keep it up-to-date. This site provides:
  • Free tutorials on how to build a computer from start to finish - from component selection to assembly to testing.
  • Help in selecting quality, compatible components for building a PC.
  • The best places to buy top-quality components from reputable resellers at unbeatable prices to use to build your own PC.
  • Detailed Build A Computer guides providing step-by-step instructions describing how to assemble the computer.
  • Instructions on configuring BIOS settings and video card drivers to get the most out of your PC.
  • How to update and upgrade your computer.
  • PC support help, such as troubleshooting tips for during and after building your computer.
  • Official and unofficial FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) for building a PC.
  • What benchmark tools to use to measure computer performance.
  • What diagnostic tools to use to look for computer problems.
  • What I used to build my computer into a super computer.
  • In short, everything you need to build a computer.
My Tutorials
Computer Memory Upgrade
Hard Drive Upgrade
Video Card Upgrade
 
 
My Super PC Forums
Special message insert from Rob

The following great deals are available right now! This message box highlights deals you really shouldn't miss. Enjoy!

MySuperPC - How to Build an Affordable, Quality, Fast PC! - Printed!

Now you can have my full assembly tutorial in printed format! The book contains the same information as the assembly web-pages. It has over 175 pictures, with many pictures enlarged for the book. The cost is less than any computer component, $29.95. And no sales tax for most (sorry, New York and North Carolina). Shipping destinations include North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim. It is a soft-cover, full-size 8.5 x 11 version that is up-to-date with the web version. It takes you from parts list and component breakdown, through step-by-step detailed assembly, entering the BIOS settings, installing the operating system, installing each hardware driver, testing performance, and trouble-shooting common problems. The book is spiral-bound so it will lay flat when you have it out next to you as you work. Now you don't need a computer to read the tutorial!
MySuperPC - The Book!
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All Crucial memory is available with free shipping! Their prices and quality are already unbeatable, and now you get free shipping, too! Crucial makes outstanding memory and it's what I use in My Super PC!
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My Super PC - Build Computer - Laptop Deals

Unfortunately, it is not an option to build your own laptop computer. Here are links to top sellers of laptops and their current specials.

Newegg Laptop Deals      Dell Laptop Offers      HP Laptop Deals
 


How To Build A Computer This first page lists the components I recommend to build a computer today, including the reputable online retailers where I would get them. Following web pages go into more detail regarding each component within a computer, such as the computer case, motherboard, processor, memory, video card, hard drive and so on, describing what type of technology is currently available and what features and capabilities to look for in each component. Finally, my free, detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions provide the most comprehensive guide available anywhere on how to build a computer, with hundreds of pictures and listing every single part that was used, right down to the cables and screws.

Here are the highlights of My Super PC today!
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P
Processor Intel Core i7-860 (quad-core)
Ram Crucial 8192MB (8GB) PC3-12800 DDR3
Video Card eVGA Geforce GTX 460 1GB DDR5 PCI-E
Hard Drive Western Digital 1000GB 7200rpm SATA
DVD RW Sony 24x DVD RW
Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (but the motherboard built-in sound is very good)
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Monitor Dell UltraSharp 2001FP 20.1-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor
It wouldn't take long for My Super PC to become just an average PC. But My Super PC was built with upgradeability as a primary consideration and it's as upgradeable as it gets!
Which brings me to the first rule of building your own PC which I call the "six month rule of delayed acquisition". Only use hardware and software that is at least six months old. There are three big reasons. First, as you may guess, is that prices drop drastically in even as short a period as six months. Second, as you may guess again, is that any problems will shake out in this time. But a third very important reason is that in only six months there will be volumes of information about an item – from how it performs to how you can best use it.
My Super PC is built entirely from high quality components in the "sweet spot", meaning each component gives the most bang for the buck. This also means that the ultimate money-is-no-object component is not used. Doing so could easily double the cost, while only marginally improving on the final result.



Cost To Build A Computer The components in My Super PC are outstanding in terms of quality and performance, and all were in the "sweet spot" at time of purchase. Today there are upgrades or alternatives for some components that are even more attactive given the current technology-price curve. In addition, there are alternatives to some components that are acceptable if the price is right or depending on your own situation. For example, I wanted a case that was not over 20 inches tall, but you may have a taller space available.
For each type of component, here are my recommendations for specific components and resellers. This may be the same as the component that I currently have in My Super PC today, or it may be a component that I would choose today if something better has come along. I also include other choices that may be better for your situation, or that I would prefer myself were I buying today. For each item, the price shown is the lowest price you can find it today from a reputable, well-established reseller. The resellers listed do not play games, such as overcharging for shipping and handling. You should have no trouble at all purchasing the items listed if you click on the link provided and follow the instructions under Comments. If you run into any trouble purchasing an item then don't hesitate to contact me via the message boards on the forums.

The Case And Power Supply

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Antec Sonata III with 500-Watt power supply
Amazon
$125.77 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. I've used this case in many versions of My Super PC. It has front port connections for USB, audio, and eSATA (the eSATA port has replaced the Firewire port). It has plenty of open bays and it's not imposingly tall. It features low-noise cooling, including vibration absorbing drive mounts. It includes a high-quality 500-watt power supply. Here are the Antec Sonata III specs.
Rosewill Challenger
Newegg
$49.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Great price for an excellent computer case, no power supply included. Same ports as the Antec Sonata III, again with lots of bays, a reasonable profile, and low-noise.
Antec Earthwatts 750-Watt Power Supply
Amazon
$89.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Plenty of power and high-quality. This with the Rosewill computer case makes a nice package.


The Processor

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz
Amazon
$215.25 Free shipping! This is what I would get today. Retail box. Quad-core LGA 1155 processor. Includes a standard CPU cooler. Clicking the link takes you directly to it.


The Motherboard

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
MSI P67A-GD65(B3) LGA 1155
Amazon
$178.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This is what I would get today. This motherboard is feature rich, has outstanding quality and is a top performer. All for a very good price.

Bundles, Barebone Kits
Motherboard Bundles
TigerDirect
Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to the page for bundles and systems. All of the components in My Super PC were purchased separately so that I got exactly what I wanted. But if you come across a bundle you like then you can be sure that all of the components are compatible. Bundles typically include at least the processor and motherboard, but can include much more.
Combo Deals
Newegg
Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to the combo deals page. Once there you can search by category, such as "AMD Motherboards" and brand, such as "Gigabyte".


RAM

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
All Crucial RAM
Crucial Memory
Varies Free shipping! Click the link to get to the Crucial web-site and follow the easy steps to find the right RAM for your motherboard or computer.
Crucial Memory UK/European
Crucial Memory UK/European
Varies Free shipping for UK orders! Click the link for UK/European pricing.


Video Card

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
EVGA GeForce GTX 460 1GB DDR5
Amazon
$174.99 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. A GeForce GTX 460 video card like this one is great for demanding graphics environments, including digital video and top-tier gaming, without spending too much. DirectX 11 support built-in. PCI-E 2.0 compliant. SLI compatible. Fast DDR3 memory. Power supply of 450-watts or better recommended. Does use an extra slot. Uses two 6-pin PCI-E power connectors from the power supply (the Antec Sonata III comes with two).


Sound Card, Computer Speakers, and Computer Headphones

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
An add-on sound card is not needed by most. The built-in sound provided by motherboards such as the ones I recommend will satisfy most listeners, including me. But if you want a sound card for even better sound or to maximize performance, the line of model I like is Soundblaster made by Creative Labs.
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer PCI Express Sound Card
Amazon
$79.00 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. The XtrememeGamer model is plenty for most of us, and cheaper than the other Elite Pro, Fatal1ty FPS and Platinum models. All models have the same core hardware. The more expensive models include extra RAM and even a remote control.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Logitech S2220 2.1 Speaker System
Amazon
$22.54 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This is a three-piece speaker system. Two satellites and a sub-woofer. Very compact and they sound great.
Sennheiser HD 202 Headphones
Amazon
$29.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Sound is much more detailed and directional with headphones like these. The difference is amazing. I describe my own computer headphones on this page.


Hard Drive

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200rpm SATA 300 MB/s
Amazon
$84.99 Free shipping! OEM version. Serial ATA II hard drive. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. That's right - 1000GB, a massive 1TB in a single hard drive. Very fast.

Backup Tips - Protect Your Valuable Data.
Westerm Digital 1 TB External Hard Drive
Amazon
$69.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This exteranl hard drive connects to the computer via a USB port. Then copy over critical files periodically using software like SyncBack.
2BrightSparks SyncBack
2BrightSparks
Free Free download! Clicking the link takes you directly to the download page. The freeware version is near the bottom of the page. Use a freeware utility like SyncBack to schedule automatic copy operations to your backup hard drive. SyncBackSE, a feature rich version, costs $30. See the SyncBack version comparison chart for details.
Online Backup
Mozy
Free Off-site backups give maximum backup protection. Mozy is free for under 2GB with no credit card required. Unlimited backup space is available for $4.95 per month.


CD-RW and DVD RW

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Sony 24x SATA DVD RW/CDRW (Black)
Newegg
$18.99 OEM version. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Uses a SATA connector. Very quiet by optical drive standards. Does not include software. The front panel color is black.


Keyboard And Mouse

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Logitech MK 520
(Keyboard and Laser Mouse)
Amazon
$39.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Stylish with a nice feel to both keyboard and mouse. Uses a 2.4GHz wireless connection for greater reliability. I like the standard keyboard layout and shape, and soft click of the mosue scroll wheel. But keyboard and mouse are very much a matter of personal taste. Personally I'm fine with a wired keyboard and mouse arrangement, too. Wired connections come with LEDs for things like Caps Lock and Num Lock.


Monitor

Description Where I Would
Get It Today 		Today's Price Comments
ASUS VK246H 24-Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor with Webcam
Amazon
$199.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This is a wide screen monitor. Monitor choice is between regular and wide screen. The regular monitor has a 4:3 aspect ratio, such as a 1600 x 1200 native resolution and is rather squarish in appearance. A widescreen monitor is rectangular and often has an apsect ratio of 16:9, same as an HDTV, with a native resolution like 1920 x 1080. Either one is fine, just a matter of preference. Widescreen monitors tend to be less expensive because a 22-inch widescreen monitor has less viewing area than a 22-inch regular monitor. A 20-inch regular monitor is about the same height as a 24-inch widescreen monitor, but the 24-inch widescreen monitor would be much wider. Here are the best selling LCD monitors at Amazon.


Software - Operating System

Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit
Amazon
$94.99 Free shipping! OEM version, which is fine for building your own computer. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. SP1 means it includes Service Pack 1, so it already has the first set of patch updates for Windows 7.

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    Skip Ahead
      Introduction/Cost To Build A Computer
      Computer Building Price Considerations
      faq: OEM Definition
      Case And Power Supply
      Processor
      Motherboard
      BIOS Settings
      RAM
      Video Card
      Sound Card
      Hard Drive
      faq: Can I Use My Old Hard Drive With A New Computer?
      CD-ROM And CD-RW
      DVD
      Change The Front Panel On The DVD RW
      Flat Panel LCD Monitor
      Other Computer Hardware
      Windows Operating System
      Firewall
      Sharing Cable Modem or DSL
      CPU Cooler And Case Fans
      Overclocking
      How Fast Is It?
      Assemble
      What Problems Were There?
      More About How To Get A Cheap Computer With Top Quality And High Performance
      Changes For A Game Computer And Enjoying Computer Games
      Changes For A Computer With MP3 Music As A Priority
      Media Center PC
      Help And Support
      faq: How Can I Tell What I Already Have In My Computer?


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