Computer Server Accessories

Karpat Zoltan — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:30:23 +0000

Servers are the most efficient computers available. Most of them are designed for fast data processing and transmitting, and not for gaming. Even if a server has a graphics card (not necessary in all situations) it’s a very slow one, on-board with 8-32MB of memory, enough for displaying statistics and diagnostic data. Their hard disks on the other hand are very fast, usually 10,000 or 15,000RPM, for very fast and dependable data access. Their memory modules are also different from desktops, they need to be very reliable, meaning that ECC (error correction cycle) RAM is mandatory. For even faster data access, servers also need huge quantities of memory, server motherboard usually support up to 32 memory modules, 4GB each.

Because servers don’t really need monitors, especially if they are used in groups of 4-128, special computer cases were designed for them called Racks, which come in many different sizes for different destinations. For every such server group it’s sufficient to have one keyboard and one monitor, so a manufacturer called NORCO designed a very special, laptop-like monitor and keyboard that slides in one of the server rack bays, thus saving a lot of space.

It doesn’t require any software, the server administrator selects the server unit he wishes to control from a simple on-screen menu, so it’s a very reliable server computer accessory.

Another useful server computer accessory is a special 3.5” hard disk rack that houses two removable 2.5” hard disks.

This can be used for lowering hard disk cost by using two 2.5 7200RPM drives instead of one 15000RPM drive, or to improve speed by using two SSDs instead of one 3.5” high-rpm noisy hard drive. It’s made of aluminum and plastic, for optimal cost and durability. For data two S-ATA cables are needed, one for each hard drive, but only one power cable is required, because 2.5” drives have very low power requirements. It also has LED indicators for both power and HDD access, and a practical security lock prevents accidental removal of drives.

To bring down cost even more, RAIDON designed a very useful memory card to S-ATA rack. It fits into a 2.5” hard drive bay and uses to Compact Flash memory cards in RAID 1 or NRAID mode.

This is not exclusively a server computer accessory, it also fits into any S-ATA laptop drive bay, improving both performance and battery life. For only $35 + cost of CF cards you can upgrade any S-ATA compatible computer’s hard drive to server-like speed.

One of the cheapest and most useful computer accessories is a 5.25” to 3.5” bay converter. Basically it made of 4 pieces of metal and 4 pieces of rubber.

One part has to be mounted to the side of the 5.25” bay, and the other one that’s connected with screws (but separated by pieces of anti-vibration rubber) has to be mounted on the 3.5” hard drive. The procedure is the same for the other side too. It costs only $6, but spares you a lot of stress and headaches normally caused by loud variable noises.

Basic Computer Hardware

hugepedia — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:50:54 +0000

Computer hardware is the physical part of the computer including the digital circuits inside the computer as opposed to the software that carry out the computing instructions. The hardware of a computer is unlikely to change frequently unless due to the crash or for upgrading them. The devices that is capable of storing, executing system instructions and controlling other logical outputs.

Hardware comprises all of the physical part of the computer such as Monitor, CPU, motherboard, ram, CD-Rom, printer, scanner, hard disk, flash drive (AKA pen drive), processor, pci buses, floppy disk, power supply, VGA card, sound card, network interface card, peripherals, joystick, mouse, keyboard, foot pedal, computer fan, camera, headset and others.

CPU (Central Processing Unit): CPU or central processing unit relates to a specific or processor. The performance of the computer is determined by the CPU chip (processor speed) and the other computer circuitry.

Hard Disk Drives – Disk drive is the mechanism to run the disks. All disks need a drive to get the information, read it and put it back to the disks. Hard disk is used to store the data permanently. Often the terms disk and drive used to describe the same thing but it should be clear that a disk is a storage device.

Modem – A modem is used for the modulation and demodulation of the data that is transferred through the modem and the telephone lines. Modem translates the data from digital to analog from analog to digital. Because on the telephone lines data can travel in the form of the analog signals and in the computer data transmits in the form of digital signals. Modems are measured by the speed which is called baud rate.

Video cards-Video cards allow computer to display video, graphics and animation. Some video cards allow computers to display television. A video card with a digital video camera allows users to produce live video. A high speed broadband internet connection is required to watch the videos on net.

Network cards: Network interface cards allow PCs to connect with each other and communicate. Every network computer is required to have a NIC card. NIC cards are required both in wired and wireless networking.

RAM (Random Access Memory) RAM is a memory that is being used by the computer to store the information temporarily. For example when some work is performed on some applications that work is temporarily stored in the RAM. More RAM in the computer more faster computer works.

Cards – Cards are the hardware components that are added to the computer to increase their functionalities and capabilities.

Memory – Memory is the one of the important piece of the hardware. Sometimes memory chip memory is confused with the hard disk memory. Sometimes unallocated space of the hard disk is used as virtual memory also known as page file. This type of memory is a temporary memory and is used actual memory is less and requires some additional memory to perform a specific task.

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Computer Server Accessories

Basic Computer Hardware