How to make a Network Cable

The steps below are general Ethernet Category 5 (commonly known as Cat5) cable construction guidelines. In this example, we will be making a Category 5 cable, but the same general method will work for making any category of network cables.

Step1:
Unroll the required length of network cable and add a little extra, just in case. If a boot is to be fitted, do so before stripping away the sleeve and ensure the boot faces the correct way.
Step 2:
Carefully remove the outer jacket of the cable, exposing about 1 1/5 inch of the twisted pairs. Be careful when stripping the jacket as to not nick or cut the internal wiring. After removing the outer case, you will notice 8 wires twisted in 4 pairs. Each pair will have one wire of a certain color and another wire that is white with a colored stripe matching its partner (this wire is called a tracer). Sometimes a rip cord (white thread) is also present.
Step 3:
Untwist the pairs so they will lay flat between your fingers. The white piece of thread can be cut off even with the jacket and disposed. For easier handling, cut the wires so that they are 3/4" (19 mm) long from the base of the jacket.
Step 4:
Arrange the wires based on the wiring specifications you are following. There are two methods set by the TIA 568A and 568B. Which one you use will depend on what is being connected. A straight-through cable is used to connect two different-layer devices (e.g. a hub and a PC). Two like devices normally require a cross-over cable. The difference between the two is that a straight-through cable has both ends wired identically, while a cross-over cable has one end wired 568A and the other end wired 568B. For our demonstration in the following steps, we will use 568B, but the instructions can easily be adapted to 568A.

568B - Put the wires in the following order, from left to right:
White orange/ orange/ white green/ blue/ white blue/ green/ white brown/ brown

568A - Put the wires in the following order, from left to right:
White green/ green/ white orange/ blue/ white blue/ orange/ white brown/ brown

Step 5:
Press all the wires flat and parallel between your thumb and forefinger. Verify the colors have remained in the correct order. Cut the top of the wires even with one another so that they are 1/2" (12.5 mm) long from the base of the jacket, as the jacket needs to go into the 8P8C connector by about 1/8", meaning that you only have a 1/2" of room for the individual cables. Leaving more than 1/2" untwisted can jeopardize connectivity and quality. Ensure that the cut leaves the wires even and clean; failure to do so may cause the wire not to make contact inside the jack and could lead to wrongly guided cores inside the plug.
Step 6:
Keep the wires flat and in order as you push them into the RJ-45 plug with the flat surface of the plug on top. The white/orange wire should be on the left if you're looking down at the jack. You can tell if all the wires made it into the jack and maintain their positions by looking head-on at the plug. You should be able to see a wire located in each hole, as seen at the bottom right. You may have to use a little effort to push the pairs firmly into the plug. The cabling jacket should also enter the rear of the jack about 1/4" (6 mm) to help secure the cable once the plug is crimped. You may need to stretch the sleeve to the proper length. Verify that the sequence is still correct before crimping.

Step 7:
Place the wired plug into the crimping tool. Give the handle a firm squeeze. You should hear a ratcheting noise as you continue. Once you have completed the crimp, the handle will reset to the open position. To ensure all pins are set, some prefer to double-crimp by repeating this step.
Step 8:
Repeat all of the above steps with the other end of the cable. The way you wire the other end (568A or 568B) will depend on whether you're making a straight-through, rollover, or cross-over cable. Test the cable to ensure that it will function in the field. In addition, with power-over-Ethernet (PoE) making its way into the market place, crossed wire pairs could lead to physical damage of computers or phone system equipment, making it even more crucial that the pairs are in the correct order. A simple cable tester can quickly verify that information for you. Should you not have a network cable tester on hand, simply test connectivity pin to pin.

See also Wiring Code for 10BaseT/ 100BaseT Cable

Belkin 2-Port KVM Switch

Belkin's two-port KVM switch is an affordable switching solution that saves workspace while giving you control of two PS/2 computers from one console. It frees up desktop space and draws power off the keyboard, eliminating the need for a power supply. The Belkin switch includes such features as mouse and keyboard emulation to ensure smooth boot-up and operation, as well as hot-key functionality so you can switch ports easily through simple keyboard commands.
The unit supports high-quality video resolution of up to 1,920 x 1,440 (at 65 Hz through a 200 MHz video bandwidth) when used with the included coaxial VGA cabling. Its auto-scanning functionality, LED indicators, and PC99 color connectors make operation and organization easy.

Product Features:
1. Includes two six-foot Omni View KVM cable kits
2. Supports video resolution of up to 1,920 x 1,440 at 65 Hz
3. Supports multiple operating systems
4. Comes with a Belkin three-year warranty and free technical support
5. Features hot-key switching
6. Includes automatic scanning function
7. Offers keyboard and mouse emulation
8. Requires no power supply

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3Gb/s 500-GB Hard Drive

Combining proven components, state-of-the-art technology and expertise in volume manufacturing, the Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 drive—the 11th generation of this award-winning desktop hard drive family—delivers 500 GB of high-performing, eco-friendly digital storage. Designed with industry-leading acoustics and power levels, and award-winning Seagate PMR technology, the Barracuda 7200.11 drive offers the ideal combination of world-class technology and lowest total cost of ownership. The
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Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3 GB/s 500GB hard drive was selected as my new system hard drive and I care much about hard drive because it is the bottom neck of the whole system. So what does Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3 GB/s 500GB hard drive can do? Seagate Barracuda Delivers 500-GB capacity, 7200 RPM, 32MB Cache, Ships with the industries most reliable and proven perpendicular magnetic recording technology, Delivers high performance, Environmentally friendly, Consumes almost 15 percent less power during idle than previous products, and enabling customers to build low-power systems.
Seagate has a proven track record of consistently delivering reliable products in volume, and the new Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3 GB/s 500GB family is no exception. Designed with up to four platters and the only second-generation perpendicular recording technology in the industry, the Barracuda 7200.11 drive offers the ideal balance of world-class technology and value, providing customers with an optimal overall solution. The capacity, reliability and performance of this drive, along with its 5-year limited warranty, ensure the longevity of digital content for years to come. This is an OEM Product. Features: Proven second-generation perpendicular recording technology. Massive capacities of 1 TB, 750 GB and 500 GB. Up to 32-MB Cache. Fast SATA 3Gb/s NCQ interface. Speedy performance at 105Mb/s sustained data rate.



Specifications: Model Number: ST3500320AS. Interface: Serial NCQ. Cache: 32 MBytes. Capacity: 500 GB. Guaranteed Sectors: 976,773,168. Height (max): 26.1 mm (1.028 inches). Width (max): 101.6 mm (4.010 inches). Length (max): 146.99 mm (5.787 inches). Spindle Speed: 7,200 rpm. Average latency: 4.16 msec. Random read seek time: <8.5>

How to add a second hard drive

The questions most ask by people are how do I add a second hard drive to my computer? I bet you've been using your computer lately to store MP3 files, downloaded movies or videos, high resolution images, or to play games. Right?

These days, anything less than 40 gigabytes of storage just isn't enough, so it may make a lot of sense to add a second hard drive to your computer. There are two possible ways to expand your computer's data capacity. One is to replace your current hard drive with a newer larger one, and the other is to simply add a second drive to accompany the first. Before you decide which option to pursue, consider the following.
Is your computer capable of supporting a second drive (sometimes called a "slave" drive)? If you have an older system with only one IDE channel (a connector inside your computer to add internal IDE parts to you motherboard), your existing hard disk and CD-ROM may already take up that connector. There goes your further expansion plan.
If you've never so much as opened up your computer's case, perhaps you might want to let someone slightly more experienced help you with this. If you're keen to try and want to go ahead and add a second drive on your own, here are some straightforward steps to follow to get the system up and running.

1. First, you're going to need a new hard drive, such as Seagate, Western Digital, Maxtor, etc. You should notice an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) cable (a wide gray ribbon cable) running from the back of your current hard drive and down into the motherboard primary IDE connector. Hopefully, the CD or DVD drives are plugged in to the secondary IDE connector.

2. As you follow the cable along, you should find another white IDE pin connection that is unused (not plugged in to another drive). Now, look for a spare unused power connector (white plastic head with wires running to the power supply). Lastly, locate the empty drive bay in the case into which you'll be mounting the new hard drive. Now, look at the back of your new hard drive. You'll notice an opening into which the power connector will plug and also a set of pins onto which the IDE cable will connect.

3. Before installing your new hard drive, locate the diagram for changing the jumper setting to a slave. These are the pins which regulate how the new hard drive will be used. The three common settings are MA (Master), SL (slave) and CS (Cable Select). Assuming your current hard drive is already running as the "Master" or MA, you should ensure the plastic sheath for the pins is covering the "SL" pins, or "Slave" pins. The diagram depicts different sets of pins with a black box around them. First look on the top of your drive. If it's not there, see if your drive came with printed instructions or check the manufacturer's website. To change the jumper, you may need to have a set of tweezers handy. Use them to reposition the jumper between the four male prongs and the IDE ribbon connector. Match the settings depicted in the diagram on top of the hard drive to make sure you do this correctly. You may want to make sure your original hard drive jumper is set to a master. Chances are it already is since most hard drives come this way. You should double-check just to be sure. Once these pins are set, connect both the power and the IDE cables.

4. Now, you're ready to mount the drive in the case. Most newer desktop hard drives will fit snugly into one of the spare bays in the case. Slide the drive into the bay and then secure it in place with the screws that come with the drive.

5. Once the drive is secured with the cables already attached, it's time to power up the computer and turn it on. Leave the case off for now until you've established the drive is properly connected and accessible.

6. Once the computer starts to check memory, press the DEL key to enter the system BIOS screen (in some systems this is the Esc key or some other FN key).

7. In the BIOS, access the standard settings and set the hard drive menu to auto, then save and exit the BIOS and reboot.

8. This time, the BIOS should recognize the new drive. If for some reason the BIOS don’t acknowledge the new drive, you should double-check all the connections and the pin settings. If the BIOS have recognized the drive, you're ready for the next step.

9. Now, you're going to need to partition and format this new drive. An excellent walk-through for using FDISK is located Radified Fdisk Guide or Microsoft’s How to use the Fdisk Tool. (See also How to partition and format the hard drive). Reboot and enter Windows. Once there, go into My Computer icon and select the new drive letters and chose to format them. Whatever you do, DO NOT accidentally format or partition your existing hard drive (usually C :). Now, after a reboot, you should see the new drives ready for you to fill them up with a pile of new data.

Kingston HyperX DDR3 Memory is here!

The King is back with a vengeance. Kingston is one of the big wigs when it comes to producing memory modules. Kingston HyperX DDR3 memory modules have made some impressive strides; the DDR2 modules are amongst the highest quality out there. And with DDR3 showing clock frequencies up to the 2000MHz range now, Kingston is on the front line of clock power. Kingston HyperX DDR3 memory the next generation of DDR memory technology. Like all Kingston HyperX products, DDR3 modules are specifically engineered and designed to meet the rigorous requirements of PC enthusiasts. DDR3 memory offers faster speeds, lower latencies, higher data bandwidths and lower power consumption than DDR2. Kingston HyperX DDR3 modules are available in single, dual and triple-channel memory kits. Intel has decided to move into the high performance market with its XMP or Extreme Memory Profile technology on their X38 and X48 chipsets, a derivative of the NVIDIA Extreme Performance Profiles. Basically, how this works is the memory is rated to do either 1600MHz or 1800MHz on an X38 or X48 chipset. The XMP data is written onto a separate EEPROM chip on the memory with improved timing data, voltage requirements and settings. When you select a XMP Profile, the modules tell the motherboards memory controller what latencies, voltage and bus speed to run at; the rest is history. Today Kingston enters the XMP market with the highest clocked XMP kit we have seen thus far, that being 1800MHz. Just imagine putting this king into compatible motherboards like NForce 790i SLI Motherboard this will be a monster machine.

HyperX DDR3 features:
1. 1.7 Volts operation
2. Memory signal termination inside the memory chip (On-Die Termination) to prevent reflected signal transmission errors
3. Operational enhancements to increase memory performance, efficiency and timing margins
4. CAS Latencies: 5 (Ultra Low Latency) and 7 (Low Latency)
5. Currently available in speeds up to 2GHz and capacities of 2GB, 3GB, and 4GB kits

6. DDR3 memory modules are not backward compatible to DDR2 and DDR based motherboards, due to incompatible module connections (number of pins), voltage and DRAM technology. DDR3 memory modules have a different key or notch than the same-sized DDR and DDR2 modules to prevent their insertion into an incompatible memory socket. Kingston HyperX DDR3 Memory modules are available in single, dual and triple-channel memory kits.

How to optimize your computer

Everyone knows that computers can sometimes slow down over time. While not an exhaustive list of solutions to problems, this collection presents several ways to speed up a computer. These step-by-step instructions can easily be followed; even novice computer users can follow these steps. The steps are intended for Windows XP users, but users of other Windows versions can follow a similar process.

1. Defrag Your Hard Drive
Over time, the data on your hard drive gets scattered. Disk Defragmenter consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk, so that each occupies a single, contiguous space on the volume. As a result, your system can gain access to your files and folders and save new ones more efficiently. By consolidating your files and folders, Disk Defragmenter also consolidates the volume's free space, making it less likely that new files will be fragmented. Defragmenting your hard drive puts your data back into sequential order, making it easier for Windows to access it As a result, the performance of your computer will improve.

2. Scan Your Hard Disk
Has your computer ever crashed, making it impossible to shut it down properly? Have you ever experienced a power outage? These problems and others can cause damage to your system files. Windows provides a utility called scandisk that will automatically detect and fix much of the damage, improving your system's performance in the process.

3. Scan for Viruses
In today's computing world, you must prevent intentional intrusions into your computer and network that take the form of viruses and Trojan horses. Detecting and cleaning viruses is an excellent way to improve your system's performance. Educate yourself about viruses and how they are commonly spread. Learn the common signs of viruses: unusual messages that appear on your screen, decreased system performance, missing data, and inability to access your hard drive. If you notice any of these problems on your computer, run your virus-detection software immediately to minimize the chances of losing data.

4. Increasing the virtual memory
Virtual memory, also known as Page File memory, uses a portion of your hard disk and acts like RAM allowing more information to be used and made at one time. It stores data about programs while your computer is running, and dumps it as needs be. Open the control panel and double-click the System icon, go to the Advanced tab. By clicking the ‘Change’ button will allow you to increase your virtual memory. Look for performance and click the settings button. Go to advanced and click change. Then choose your hard disk drive from the list and choose custom size. Set the sizes accordingly to however much page file your computer uses (1024MB is best as an initial size). Once finished, press ‘Set’ and ‘OK’
You should not set your maximum size larger than double the minimum setting, otherwise too much space may be used on your hard drive leaving you nothing left.

5. Check for Spyware and Adware
Spyware is software that allows companies to monitor what websites you visit or even access your computer. Adware is software that displays advertisements. Both use system resources and slow your computer down. Detecting and removing the programs will improve system performance.

6. Using Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup helps free up space on your hard drive. Disk Cleanup searches your drive, and then shows you temporary files, Internet cache files, and unnecessary program files that you can safely delete. You can direct Disk Cleanup to delete some or all of those files. Uninstalling/Removing programs that you no longer use can free up space on your computer and speed up your system's performance. However, you need to uninstall the programs properly to see much improvement; deleting them is not enough. And make sure you know what your deleting coz if you don’t it will give you much more problem at the end.

7. Adjust Visual Effects for Better Performance
Windows XP provides a number of interesting visual effects like animated windows and fading menus. These effects, however, can slow down your computer. If you like the style of the old Windows Classic themes, you should follow this step to enable your computer to be faster. Sure it’ll looks like an older version of windows, but at least your computer will improve its performance. Going to Control Panel, then System then click Advanced tab. Look for performance and click the settings button. In Visual Effects tab select the option to “Adjust for best performance” and press apply.

8. Stop Programs from starting on Windows boot
One way you can speed up your computer is to prevent programs from launching themselves at start-up. Not only do the unwanted programs delay the start of Windows, they also continue to slow down your computer since they use system resources.

HIS HD 4850 IceQ 4 TurboX

HIS introduces the HIS HD 4850 IceQ 4 TurboX 512MB (256bit) GDDR3 PCIe, featuring the 4th generation of the award-winning IceQ cooling technology. Thanks to the newly designed double-slot fans and heatsink, HIS IceQ 4 effectively dissipates the heat from the GPU, thus enabling it for high levels of performance. HIS claim that the IceQ 4 TurboX is "The World's fastest HD4850" and with its GPU and GDDR3 memory clocked at 685 / 2200MHz respectively we're certainly not going to disagree. Sure it might not quite be up there with the 700MHz stock clocked core of its GDDR5 based bigger brother, but with a 60MHz overclock on the core and 212MHz on the memory, the gap will certainly be less pronounced. HIS IceQ 4 is the 4th generation of IceQ cooling technology. It cools down the GPU temperature dramatically when compare with the reference cooler, allow you to maximize your overclocking potential. What's more? The ultra silent and durable fan delivers ultra-quiet and stable gaming environment for enthusiast computer gamer. Efficient transfer of heat outside of computer case cool air is drawn from both sides of the fan and hot air is forced out of the computer case.

This ensures effective cooling when there is another card in front blocking the fan inlet. By expelling the hot air, IceQ 4 removes all the heat generated by the GPU out of the computer chassis, prevents the hot air from accumulating inside and enhancing the overall stability and gives more 19% cooler than other cards. It has ATI Crossfire Advantage, the fan ensures effective cooling with another card blocking at front. Silent and durable fan significantly reduce noise level and extend service life. HIS by tooling up their IceQ4 Cooler not only made their card silent but were able to do that and make the card operate some 20 degrees cooler than others. Dual Heatpipe Heat is rapidly transferred from the core area reducing the GPU temperature. A dual-slot cooling design ensures you can conveniently connect the ATI Crossfire cable to run an ATI Crossfire setup. Other brands' cooler which is greater than Dual-slot cannot run CrossFire Setup in some motherboards. UV Sensitive IceQ4 will glow under UV light. As stated, the plastic cooler is UV reflective, throw in a 5 USD UV cold-cathode and you can get that nice dark ocean blue thing going on. The HIS HD 4850 IceQ 4 TurboX cooler is both silent and offers much better than reference cooling performance. Next to that, it looks quite nice as well, throw in a little cold-cathode UV light and the thing will shine up like it's radiated... lovely to look at it.

As graphics cards go, the HIS HD 4850 IceQ 4 TurboX looks simply awesome. Using a cooler not dissimilar in appearance to the previous generation of Arctic Cooling's 'Silencer' series, a blower fan mounted at the rear of the card pushes air through copper coloured (but most likely aluminium) fins attached to a base plate. As mentioned previously, both the Memory and PLL heatsinks are isolated from the main GPU cooler which is probably a good thing considering how hot the 4800 series cores can get.


At the front of the card you'll find the standard configuration of two DVI ports and an S-Video port bolted to the dual-slot blanking plate. However, HIS have seen fit to gold plate the connections on the DVI ports and also electroplate the blanking plate in a gunmetal black colour. This further improves the aesthetic appeal of the card, which combined with the custom blue PCB, makes it probably the best looking graphics card we've ever seen. The World's Fastest HD4850 - HIS HD4850 IceQ 4 TurboX HD 4850 IceQ 4 Turbo X posting significantly faster scores than the standard HD 4850 and the GeForce 9800 GTX+.

Make no mistake, the HIS HD 4850 IceQ 4 TurboX is the crème de la crème of 4850 series cards. With its superb after-market cooling and fearlessly high factory overclock and nifty little touches such as a custom coloured PCB, gold-plated DVI connectors and an electroplated blanking plate, the card will look at home in even the most high-end PC despite the 4850's mid-range audience.

Highly efficient solar cells

ANY BRIGHT IDEAS

We hear lots of bad news about the environment. But there’s plenty of good news too. We need it. So here are some pieces of good news. The Sun provides almost all the heat and light Earth receives and therefore sustains every living being. When it comes to renewable energy, everybody wants to have it to lighten them up there homes, any bright ideas what it is? Highly efficient solar cells are stored inside the jars, which are powered by a rechargeable battery and LED lamps. The magic begins when the jar is placed in direct sunlight to create an electrical current which charges the battery over the course of a few hours. The energy stored inside the jar is used at night to power the LED lamps.

The frosting on the jar diffuses the light to give it the appearance of sunlight coming from the jar. There’s no switch on the jars, nor are there any visible controls. The light sensor located inside the jar activates the LEDs in the jar when it gets dark, so you have light where ever you go!

Because the Jar is built inside a mason jar, its air and water tight, which means the jar can be left outside in any weather conditions. The jars make great garden lights, as well as night lights for small children. Because the jar needs direct sunshine to work, it’s best to place them in a window which gets lots of shade. The Sun and Moon jars use an AA battery, which is completely replaceable.

Tips for Web searching

1. Play the Favorites.
If you choose two or three search sites to use most often, familiarize yourself with their advanced search rules. The more you use them, the better the result.
2. Specify what you want.
When you’re searching a product, for example, use a query that helps the search site know what you want. Try entering “Sony Mavica reviews” instead of just “Sony Mavica.”
3. Quote Me.
Putting quotation marks around a search phrase often works magic. For example, if you include quotation marks when you search for the philosopher “Aristotle,” you will avoid getting listings for cufflinks or building materials.
4. Be a task master.
You can often locate what you want by entering a task into the search field. Try typing in “update my social security” or “File my taxes,” say.
5. Brush up on Boolean.
Try Boolean command AND first, to see links with all search terms, as in Intel AND processor.
6. Make a date.
If you want links that relate to a particular time, include date or year in quotation marks. Example: “Olympics and 2008.”
7. Learn your lingo.
If you’re searching for specialized material, make a note of the specific phrases that others use in the field. For example, a fundraiser who often researched potential donors’ biographies tells us that the quickest search is often “John Smith” combined with “honorary degree.”
8. Think before you click.
Avoid wasting time on irrelevant sites and pages. Scan the search results blurb for the context in which your terms were used, the URL, the identity of the publisher, and the date (if available).
9. Keep moving.
Don’t look beyond the first page of search results. It’s better and faster to try another search using different keywords.