The PSU Problem

More often than not you come upon a computer problem that you can't seem to figure out. A rebooting computer that isn't overheating; a hard drive that seems to be performing below standard without any clear reason.

One of the most common causes of computer problems is a low quality power supply. I took my own experience, and that of others across the net to bring you a general guide to what power supplies to buy.

A Power Supply Units (or PSU for short) is probably one of the most important parts of a computer. Having too low a wattage can cause problems with devices that will not receive enough power. Bad quality PSUs can cause shorts or surges in the system, which can lead to damage on sensitive components such as motherboards. Thus, choosing the right power supply is a must for any computer technician to ensure that a PC runs smoothly and safely. 

General Info on how PSU's work

The Power Supply Unit's purpose is converting AC (Alternating Current) from your house electricity to DC (Direct Current), which is used by the computer. A PSU also converts or 'switches' the DC current to lower voltages for the various components inside the computer (3.3 volts, 5 volts, 12 volts, etc). Newer ATX PSUs (which are the standard now) have a special standby power circuit for the power switch in order to allow the motherboard to detect the power switch being turned on.

Choosing a size

One of the first considerations when buying a PSU is its purpose. Are you planning on putting it into a low-end office computer, or a high-end gaming setup?

Standard computers are those used for light gaming, office usage, browsing, etc. These computers usually lack a graphics card, and run on a pentium 4 or an equivalent CPU. A quality 400 to 550 watt PSU is sufficient to run the computer smoothly.

A more game-related computer with upgrades and a low- to medium-range graphics card falls into the second category. With a dual core or quad core processor this usually requires at least a 550 watt up to a 750 watt PSU depending on the power necessities, especially of the graphics card.

With the serious gamer comes a serious gaming computer, and that requires a PSU with more power. A computer with a quad core or higher CPU, a high-end graphics card (possibly SLI or Crossfire), overclocking and high-end applications or games usually requires a PSU of 750 to 850 watts of very high quality.

There are even stronger PSU's of 950W+, but they are more for high-end graphic setups (such as SLI or Crossfire) or large capacity servers. 

Calculating a size

Power Supply Calculators are useful tools for the end user to work out what PSU is the best for the system intended. Although there are many of them on the internet, there are a few that are recommended by professionals :

- eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

- ASUSTeK Computer PSU Wattage Calculator

- MSI Global - PSU Calculator

Choosing a brand

Although there are many brands on the market, many of them are cheap manufacturers that cut corners mass producing low-quality power supplies that are bad for computers and their users.

Although there are thousands of well-known brands and reccomendations on the internet, there are a few that stand out. In general, brands such as SeaSonic, Thermaltake, Corsair, Coolermaster and XFX are good makes to look at. Here on TSF we generally recommend Seasonic and XFX, but for an extensive list of several brands and their usage, check out the forum article here. Choosing a high quality, brand-name PSU is always a better choice than going for the cheaper makes. You might pay more, but it'll save you money in damages in the future.

Afterword

Often underappreciated and considered, Power Supply Units are probably the most important part of a computer and buying cheap means affecting your own computer's livelyhood and quality. So make the right choice when it comes to your PSU.

Technology of 2012 Past

2012 is soon ending -and with the apocalypse it might have been with a bang- which as always makes us think back on everything that has happened in the technology market over the past year. It was a big year, especially for Microsoft who has brought out numerous products and made a step into the mobile market with renewed force. In between the Apple Maps debacle and the Facebook IPO fiasco, Samsung and Apple had a war and Samsung had to bite the bullet in the end. Many new devices have surfaced, especially mobile ones, changing the way people think about technology in a surefire way. Let’s take a look at what the tech-world has experienced in the year 2012.


One of the largest pieces of news was, of course, Microsoft’s new and improved operating system, Windows 8. Packed with a new interface, mobile and cross-platform compatibility, more security and social linking, Microsoft claims it to be a high point in the Windows chain. The OS has made quite a lot of news, especially comments on its new interface, with a lot of negative criticism surrounding it. Microsoft also released the Surface, it’s own tablet to contend with Apple’s iPad and the Galaxy Tab series. It runs Windows RT (a mobile version of Windows 8), and features an attachable keyboard to convert it into a semi-notebook.

For more info on Windows 8 and other products, click here.

Another well-known and much talked about topic was the rather public court case between Apple and Samsung. With various suing and counter-suing about copyright infringements this bad publicity was eventually ended with Samsung having to apologize publicly to Apple for their allegations that the iPhone is a copy of the Galaxy phone series and various other claims.

For more info on the court case between Apple and Samsung, click here.

Talking about Apple, the recent release of the iPhone 5 has had many a hand in a fist in frustration at the poorly redesigned map application, Apple Maps, found on the iPhone devices. With various errors and missing information it has become a rather embarrassing situation for the computer giant and is sure to be remembered on internet memes for years to come.

For more info on the iPhone 5, check out their site here.

Tablets and mobile devices are flooding the market, and it really came to pass in 2012 with dozens of releases of tablet computers for the everyday user. The Galaxy Tab/Note series, iPads and even the Surface has really changed the face of mobile computing. The lack of weight and the easy access to the internet has made them prime choices for the businessman or woman abroad, and even the everyday consumer is able to afford the cheaper models. This move into the mobile market has changed computing and software design where developers are focusing more and more on ‘Apps’, small applications for download on the various devices’ online stores, and integrating the mobile and desktop environments for a total computing experience. And it seems the consumers agree with developers, the beginning of the year marking a large increase in smartphone sales ( even outselling PCs last year). Although the PC is nowhere dead, its a global shift of computer perspective, and everyone is waiting to see if it lasts.

Facebook’s step into Initial Public Offering (IPO), trading on the stock market, ended in an atrocious failure after all the hype about it. Their stock values dropped almost to half of its value, leaving the social networking company in an embarrassing situation. Luckily their stock has slowly started to stabilize.

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A lot of devices and gadgets were released this year. Here are some of the more well-known ones;

- With the release of the iPhone 5 we should not forget about the stylish Galaxy S3 that released recently. Contending well with Apples new phone this fully decked out mobile device is a well-rounded and effective solution for those who prefer to stay away from getting lost on an iPhone 5.

- Apple also release the iPad 3 and iPad mini this year, with various new features and new designs, staying true to the original iPad feel.

- Nintendo brought out the Wii-U, a full year before any of the other rival consoles’ planned release dates and it impressed many with its touch screen controller, HD graphics (finally) and online store.

- Lytro came forward with a new camera called the Lytro Light-field which uses a special technology that captures traveling light, allowing you to adjust the focus and lighting after you’ve taken the picture, making for an interesting alternative to normal cameras. Check out their site for more information about the camera by clicking here.

- Amazon released the Kindle Fire this year and it was met with much acclaim. Even more useful than its useful release, the Kindle Fire is proving to be a excellent e-reader and with its automatic connection to Amazon, there’s really no reason not to get it.

Well there you have it. Should have gone up in 2012 still, but hey, rather late then never, right? Let's hope this year has even more awesome stuff for us technology-obessessed.

Linux getting Steam?

Although fairly old news, Linux seems to be catching on in the larger gaming market, especially where digital copies of games are concerned. Linux for Steam has been launched a few days ago by Valve, who has successfully released hundreds of games on their digital distribution platform for several years. This version of Steam will run on Ubuntu 12.04, and features only a few games which includes Team Fortress 2, Serious Sam and several other titles. The platform is only available to a few hundred beta testers but Valve stated that they will slowly grow the user base as further testing continues.

This move from Valve is a good step towards gaming integration between Linux and the commercial Windows and Mac systems that dominate the paying market. Open Source has come a long way since its beginnings decades ago, and Linux is still a prime example of stability and security in a malware and hacker-filled world, making availability of games a plus point for more consumers to consider switching to the free operating system.

Long has Windows emulation and game-hacking been the only way to get many of the commercially released games and even other applications to work. Although this will not be the first time PC and Mac games comes to Linux, it is a starting point for a much larger scale of digital distribution and Linux gaming integration. We await silently, hoping that this move will promote the Open Source community and give Linux a larger view around the world.

Windows RT Moving Away from Freedom of Choice

Microsoft is starting to seem like it might be slowly edging to an unwanted platform with RT. For those wondering, Windows RT (formerly known as Windows on ARM) will be a version of the Windows 8 operating system for ARM devices such as tablets. The RT acronym does not officially stand for anything. 
Recently announced, applications that will run on RT has to be 'certified' by Microsoft to be added to the list of programs on their store. This means that similar to other platforms such as Apple's Mac, not all programs will effectively run on Windows RT if it hasn't been checked by MS to adhere to certain standards. 

Now, although this is good in practice, the one thing that made the PC as a computer original was its compatibility and changeability. With a PC computer you always have the choice of using computers like you want, customizing it completely. Sure, there were multiple compatibility problems with various systems, and there's no dodging away from that. But although not as open-formed as Linux, Windows gave you options by not limiting your choices. 

Windows 8 won't have this system yet, so its still free game, but the direction that Microsoft is moving might be a troubling one for those who enjoyed the freedom that a PC offered with Windows' open system. I personally also enjoyed the large choice I had with Windows and PC's so far, leaving me slowly losing even more faith in Microsoft's new business model.

More Copyright Drama starring Apple, HTC and Samsung

As I speculated in my previous article, copyright infringment wars continue on, and this time Apple is allegedly in the crosshairs of both Samsung and HTC following the release of their newest edition of mobile smartphone, the iPhone 5. 

In 2009, the LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard, or how its more widely known, 4G LTE, has brought about numerous patents containing the various designs of wireless communication used for mobile phones to the table, but it has never seen the light in Apple's device until the recent release of their new iPhone.  This has prompted Samsung to imply that they would be suing Apple for patents they hold in conjunction with the LTE standard. Although originally one would think this is simply Samsung throwing a tantrum for their previous loss, they actually might have some lean in this matter. 

Samsung has run an LTE network for quite some time, and they might have some pull if they were to pursue charges of patent infringment.
Similarly, HTC also indicated a possible law suit against the importing of iPhone on the grounds of patent violations, especially since an ITC judge, Judge Thomas Pender stated that they would have to overwhelmed with evidence to have any ruling against the patent infringement claim by HTC, which bodes well for the mobile device company.

Apple seems to have stepped onto a landmine here, and although they have the finacial backing for another lawsuit, their chances of winning might be slim as it stands now. We'll have to see what more horrors await Apple if the suit comes to life.

Hardware Copyright Battles

Since 2011, the heated battle between Samsung and Apple has run wild, creating stirs in the internet community and the world. Apple sued Samsung for various copyright infringements including Samsung's Galaxy Tab and their Galaxy phones. In response to this attack on their validity, Samsung counter-sued them with similar claims of copyright infringments with Apple's Iphone and technologies. 

So, the last month the court drama came to a climax with final arguments and evidence being presented by both parties. Then, a few days ago the final verdict was given by the jury and Samsung was slammed with a 1 billion dollar damage payment for infringing on a lot of Samsung's best-seller mobile devices. This is surely a hard hit for Samsung, not only against their pockets, but also their reputation. 

The whole debacle has thrown copyright infringements back into the spotlight. Recently, and less in the news, was the Oracle vs Google infringement case. Oracle sued Google for allegedly infringing on Java patents with their Android operating system. 

For years, technology has been fragmented more than it is today in the sense of advancements, that made it a lot harder to infringe on existing patents. But in the past few decades, technology, and specifically computer technology has grown to include many standards. And the more standard something is, the closer it gets to being the same as another guy's own design. 

A few older cases comes to mind, such as Apple's claim against Psystar in 2008 for their 'hackintosh' systems that came loaded with Apple's OS.

It is the opinion of many a internet-blogger that Apple will be going after Google next, for various infringement they have committed against Apple's devices. Google has been going strong with innovation, but perhaps they are running out of ideas? More and more things they release are starting to feel like copies of other people's work. Such as their Android system's similarities to Java and other related mobile operating systems (such as Apple's own mobile OS, iOS). Apple has always been intent on their patents, and have been hunting copycats for years.

If there's one thing we have learned from this court drama between Samsung and Apple, its that you can only get away with blatent technology theft for so long. Don't get me wrong, I use a Samsung phone myself, which is like a small, less fancy iPhone. But in the end it is so close to Apple's phones that I agree with the verdict of the court on this matter. In my opinion, we might see more copyright lawsuits come up after this case, as it has set a precident for copyright infringement.

Microsoft RT and why you can't say 'metro' anymore

The line between Netbooks, Notebooks and Tablets are slowly merging into one gigantic pool of confusion. Recently, with the release of Windows 8, Microsoft also announced a version of their software that would run on ARM devices, which in essence will be in between a tablet and a laptop. But what is Windows RT as it is called, and what makes it different?

Windows RT is simply abbreviated letters for Runtime, which is the name of the engine that runs the "Metro" apps. Unlike the regular version of Windows 8, RT will be sold directly to manufacturers and will be preloaded on RT devices. Those will often have a detachable keyboard, but also a touch screen so that it functions both as a laptop and a tablet. It will only run apps downloaded from the Windows Store, similar to a tablet or smartphone.
RT Tablets will supposedly have longer battery life, faster gesture support, NFC(Near Field Communication) and better graphics than other tablets, according to an article on Cnet.

This effectively creates a new level of computing device that falls somewhere between the currently popular tablets, and the more powerful notebooks or laptops. Netbooks have all but died in the market with the tablet revolution currently in effect.

Dell, Lenovo and Samsung will be developing Windows RT computers, and Asus has already announced a RT tablet in the works.
One version of the Microsoft Surface, their own tablet, will also run Windows RT.

Windows RT will not include Windows Media Player, but have a RT version of the new office.

With all the hype in tablets, Microsoft is really putting out to fit the market, and in my humble opinion, they are not doing a bad job. They have been aiming high since Windows 8's announcement and so far they have not dissappointed where the big picture is concerned. We will have to wait and see if the Windows RT tablets are feasible in a market where Apple and Samsung already flies high.

While we are on the subject of Microsoft, they have recently changed the official naming of the 'metro'-style appearance of Windows 8 to simply calling it Windows 8. The reason for this is that they are stepping lightly around using the name after German retailer Metro AG supposedly implied that they were unhappy with Microsoft using the name. According to MS, the name was more of a code name that they would slowly change away from when the OS was finally released, but personally I think the name will stay with us forever. The dreaded Metro, so user-friendly that people like me will dislike it because it is too automatic for my taste.

Microsoft is busy this year, and many are waiting for the release of Windows 8 in October when RT, Windows Phone 8 and the Surface will make their appearances. We'll see how it all pans out in the end.