Time is so merciless to computers that in order for them to remain modern and powerful enough, they need to be updated and improved very often. And this concerns not only software, but also the so-called iron, which needs a timely upgrade. Its essence is to replace old parts with new ones that have more powerful performance. After all, it is far from a secret that the moral details of a computer become obsolete much faster than physically, and a new computer last year is inferior to new products today in many ways. Of course, you can not worry about updating parts, and immediately purchase a computer to order, but the upgrade has its advantages: they manifest themselves in the ability to update a computer that is not yet completely outdated.

What exactly does the upgrade include? About everything in order.

The main components of the upgrade

HDD. It is with this detail that they most often begin. new hard disk may be needed when the existing computer memory provided by hard drive, not enough to store all necessary files user. There are a couple of ways to solve this problem: most often, users choose the way to add another HDD to the existing one, a complete replacement is less common hard drive on new. If your computer is already quite powerful, but still needs to be improved, then you can use a new type hard drives- SDD disks, which have a much higher write and read speed than the disks that are most often used now - HDD disks.

RAM. It is the improvement of this component that is the key to improving the performance of the computer as a whole. You can increase the amount of RAM by adding new boards to motherboard, while it is important to take into account that the parameters of all additional boards correspond to the parameters already installed boards. You can completely replace all the boards and install new, more powerful ones, if necessary in a particular case. An interesting fact is that if the amount of RAM increases from 2 GB to 4 GB, then the user feels the effect of this immediately, but if you increase the volume from 4 GB to 8 GB, then the difference can only be noticed in some software products: specialized programs , individual games, etc. And when switching from 2 GB of RAM to 4 GB, you will have to install a 64-bit operating system.

Video card replacement. The video card will make the computer more productive in terms of watching videos or playing various games. It is important when choosing a new video card to check that it matches the motherboard on the computer.

Replacement of other components of the computer is also necessary, but, for example, items such as a mouse or keyboard affect performance to a lesser extent. Make your computer better will help and processor replacement: the new one should have more cores, as well as a higher clock speed than the previous one. Moreover, it also plays an important role power unit, the latest models of which will ensure reliable and trouble-free operation.

To understand which part needs to be updated first, you need to test all the components, and for this the operating system provides special indicators and ratings. And already, based on how the element is loaded the most, you should decide what to update in the first place, and whether it is worth it, since in some cases it will be more reasonable, simple and economical to purchase a new modern computer.

The processor can rightfully be considered the main component in a personal computer. This part is responsible for any calculations made by the computer. It is the processor that is responsible for playing video, music, opening graphic files, and even the operation of the browser.

Any action performed by the computer requires the participation of the processor. Even seemingly video games, for which the main part is a video card, require a fairly powerful processor. Contrary to popular belief, a powerful graphics card alone will not be enough to run modern games. A mid-range processor and graphics card will perform much more efficiently than a budget processor and a flagship graphics card.

Thus, many computer users eventually realize that their processor is the weakest link in the system, especially if it does not support 64-bit systems or limits the frequency of RAM. So, how to replace the processor on your computer yourself.

Choosing a replacement processor

Unfortunately, replacing the processor is much more difficult than reassembling new computer, because the user will have to select a model that fits other components. If the computer is too outdated and processors are simply not sold on it, of course, you will have to purchase a new system unit, because buying an expensive used CPU does not make any sense.

First, you need to find out which socket (socket for the processor) is installed on the motherboard. For this you can use free application AIDA64. In section " Motherboard » you can see which socket is set to (MP).

You can also find out the socket type from the documentation for the MP that comes with the computer.

By finding out which socket an MP is using, one can check which processors are available on that socket. If the availability of goods allows you to choose the desired processor, for example, replace a dual-core one with a six-core one, then you can safely change the component.

In the characteristics of the desired processor, in addition to the number of cores, you need to pay attention to the following three parameters:

• core frequency - it is extremely important to pay attention to the core frequency. The fact is that not all games work with four at once, and even more so with six. Thus, in games, a dual-core processor with 4 GHz will show itself better than, for example, a six-core processor with 1.4 GHz;
• processor architecture - in order to install a 64-bit operating system on a computer, and, consequently, to be able to work with four or more gigabytes of RAM, the buyer must choose the processor whose architecture supports 64-bit systems;
• maximum RAM frequency - when purchasing a processor, you should find out at what frequency of RAM it can work. Unfortunately, older models of processors can rarely work with more than 1333 MHz. So if the RAM is running at 2133MHz and the CPU is running at 1333MHz, the CPU will limit the maximum memory frequency.

Another important aspect is the presence of a video core (GPU) in the processor. For example, if instead of a video card, a person used a processor with an integrated video core, he will either have to buy, or, again, purchase a processor with an integrated GPU.

The socket is something like a socket where the processor is installed. On the surface of the socket there are many holes or contact pads in which the contacts of the processor must be placed. It is impossible to insert the processor incorrectly, in other words, the main task during installation is not to damage the CPU contacts.

Socket for AMD processors

To correctly install the processor, a mark in the form of a yellow triangle is located on one of the corners of the part. The same label is located on one of the corners of the socket. During installation, both labels must match.

Before starting the installation, lift the lever and the metal cover (if present).

During installation, under no circumstances can physical force be used. The processor should be smoothly placed in the socket, after which, the lever is pressed against the motherboard and fixed in the place intended for it. In sockets from Intel, the lever is extremely tight, and to fix the processor, you may have to use physical force.

Radiator installation

Installing a radiator is an extremely important process. If a person changes the processor, there is no way for him to avoid this process.

Cooling is also selected, depending on the motherboard socket. If a person bought a processor in a BOX kit, i.e. in the boxed version, then the cooling already has thermal paste applied.

Intel Pentium processor in BOX package

All you need to do in this case is to remove the protective film and install it on the installed processor.

If a person purchased a cooler separately from the processor, he needs to make sure that the cooler is compatible with the socket and meets the requirements for heat dissipation. To do this, you should make sure that the TDP parameter is greater than or the same size as the processor. TDP or power dissipation is a value in watts that indicates how much thermal power a CPU cooling system can dissipate. Typically, TDP processors for personal computers are 95 and 125 watts. Accordingly, the TDP of the cooling system should be the same. You can find out the TDP of the processor and cooler on the manufacturer's website or in the store where you plan to buy replacement components.

If the device is chosen correctly, a thin layer of thermal paste is applied to the surface of the processor (in case a non-BOX CPU package was purchased), after which cooling is installed, clinging to the socket with clamps on both sides.

The installed cooling is fixed with a special lever located in the upper part of the cooling system, and the cooler itself is connected by a plug to the motherboard in the appropriate connector.

I must say that the CPU can be replaced if the motherboard socket is modern enough and it is easy to find a suitable processor for sale on it.

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06.08.2014

Testing of high-performance multimedia notebooks.

Can a modern laptop replace a familiar one? home computer? We decided to test five of the most interesting devices from various manufacturers, positioned as a replacement for a desktop PC, and talk about their advantages and disadvantages.

Can a modern laptop replace a familiar home computer? Many people think that this is simply impossible. Nevertheless, the widespread use of powerful mobile processors of the Core i7 family has clearly changed the situation, and for the better. Quad-core processors have finally taken root in laptops, which has enabled manufacturers to create really fast mobile PCs that can compete with their stationary counterparts.

What conditions should satisfy a modern personal computer designed for home use? Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is mobility combined with high performance and maximum functionality. In our opinion, laptops with a screen diagonal of 17.3 inches are the best option. The fact is that the relatively large dimensions of the body provide truly inexhaustible possibilities for designers, and mobility does not suffer much at the same time - the mass of such devices, as a rule, does not exceed 3 kg.

Of course, it is still too early to bury classic desktop computers, although, by and large, it is in the domestic sphere that they are slowly but surely being replaced portable devices. There are many reasons for this - the combination of mobility, high performance and functionality of laptops makes them indispensable assistants for every person.

The modern computer market offers a wide variety of models designed for home use. In order to make it easier for readers to choose one or another device, we decided to test five of the most interesting devices from various manufacturers and talk about their advantages and disadvantages.

HP Envy 17-j100sr(average price - 45,000 rubles)

The company is positioning this laptop model as a replacement for a home PC designed for games and other entertainment. The case with a matte lid gives the impression of solid and solid, the main colors are black and silver. A large company logo that glows during operation is used as a decorative decoration - it seems that this solution is becoming more and more popular. In general, the designers did a great job - the device looks solid and stylish. The build quality is good, when trying to squeeze the device only barely noticeable crackles, and even then only when you make serious efforts. So the only problem that the user has is fingerprints, which remain even on matte surfaces.

The island-type keyboard, equipped with a numeric keypad, is very convenient - the buttons are large, their movement is soft and at the same time distinct. Perhaps the only thing that I did not like was the too narrow key, which is quite difficult to hit out of habit, you will have to get used to it. Rough Touchpad large enough, so it is quite convenient to use it in the course of everyday work, although it is practically unsuitable for games. But pressing the "mouse" buttons did not please - in this device it is tight and quite loud.

The stereo speakers produced by Altec Lansing, located directly below the display, are responsible for playing sounds. Their quality is quite high - a decent sound volume and minimal distortion at high frequencies make a very good impression.

The laptop is equipped with a matte touch screen with a diagonal of 17.3 inches and a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels, which is the fruit of a joint effort between LG and Philips. Its brightness is more than sufficient, the backlight is uniform, the horizontal viewing angles are also good. Vertical ones are a little worse - for normal operation, you have to adjust the position of the lid.

The hardware is also quite decent: a quad-core 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 4702MQ processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 1000 GB hard drive. Discrete video adapter based on NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M. Naturally, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless interfaces, as well as a built-in camera for video conferencing, are not forgotten.

The battery capacity is 5100 mA. h, which allows the laptop to work in read mode for about 4 hours. Unfortunately, at maximum load, everything is much more deplorable - 50 minutes, and no more.

ASUS N750JV(average price - 41,500 rubles)

Despite the strict colors used in the design of the case, appearance This laptop can be called quite nice without exaggeration. Smoothed corners, a metal cover with a company logo glowing during operation, brushed aluminum finish - in general, everything is quite stylish, although without any frills.

Inside, everything is just as attractive - a full-size island-type keyboard equipped with a numeric keypad, the layout of the keys is familiar, the stroke is clear, so everything is in perfect order with ergonomics. The touch panel also pleased - although this pointer is not very suitable for games, its dimensions are very large, and the coverage is almost perfect. But the "mouse" buttons, I must admit, did not like it. The fact is that they have too short a stroke, so pressing is sometimes missed.

Matte 17.3-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels has excellent brightness and contrast, all colors are rich and saturated. It is very pleasant to work with text or look at photos on such a display, however, when sunlight or light from another strong source hits the screen, the monitor fades noticeably. By the way, the model has very good vertical viewing angles, but the horizontal ones are slightly smaller, although this does not affect the image display quality.

The filling is quite powerful: a quad-core 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7 4700HQ processor, a discrete video adapter nVidia GeForce GT-750M, 8 GB of RAM, a DVD drive. In general, if it is not yet a complete analogue desktop computer, yet something close. And, interestingly, during operation the device practically does not heat up, increasing the fan speed only at a really high load.

And here are the records battery life don't expect much from this model. Despite the fact that the device consumes a moderate amount of electricity, a single battery charge with a capacity of 6260 mA. h will not be enough even to watch a video - in DVD mode, the laptop can only last 70-80 minutes. This, of course, is not too much - the battery in this case should be considered solely as a built-in UPS.

Toshiba QOSMIO X70-A-K2S(average price - 63,000 rubles)

As you know, Qosmio - top line Toshiba, which includes the most productive, technological and fast laptops. All devices of this series are positioned solely as a full-fledged replacement for a desktop computer - of course, style and appearance play an important role in this.

The design of the model without exaggeration can be described as bright and aggressive. The lid is plastic, on its surface there is a pattern “under carbon”. The keyboard panel is black, with a red insert around the perimeter. The places under the wrists are very comfortable, and there are no fingerprints left on them.

The keyboard itself also causes only positive emotions. There are practically no borders, a convenient digital block, well-read symbols - in a word, everything is here, as it should be for a decent laptop. There are no backlashes, the buttons are large and comfortable, the pressing is soft and distinct.

The touchpad, equipped with a red backlight, is large, but there are no markings for scrolling on it. Besides, working with the pointer is not particularly pleasant, since the panel is shifted to the left, just where the wrist should be. Do not cause positive emotions and "mouse" buttons - pressing them is accompanied by a distinct click.

But the filling of the device is on top. The quad-core Intel Core i7 4700MQ processor is complemented by a video adapter based on the nVidia GeForce GTX 770M. 16 GB RAM, two hard drives, Blu-ray-drive - all this will help brighten up your leisure time. By the way, another plus is that the model uses an excellent cooling system that perfectly copes with its duties. And because the laptop case almost always remains cold.

The glossy display with a diagonal of 17.3 inches has a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. It is worth recognizing that although the screen is not very bright, nevertheless it has a rich and rich color reproduction. Viewing angles are also very good, both horizontal and vertical, which is unfortunately not common.

The battery capacity is 5600 mA. h, which is not much for such a powerful device. As a result, the test results for autonomy were not impressive - 152 minutes in read mode and 73 minutes when working at maximum performance. However, for the "desktop" this is more than enough.

Acer ASPIRE V3-775G(average price - 40,000 rubles)

Acer is a well-known manufacturer of reliable laptops that are consistently popular with almost all segments of the population.

The design of the updated ASPIRE line looks stylish and dignified. The build quality is also very high - all the gaps between the structural elements are minimal and uniform, we did not notice any squeak or crunch when squeezing the working area.

The keyboard is large and comfortable, it looks original and gives the laptop a certain sophistication. All buttons are located in the usual places, nothing falls through and does not irritate. The move is soft and clear, right and left of the usual size. In general, typing on it is very comfortable - hands do not get tired even after long typing. Of the shortcomings, it should be noted that the keyboard deflection is standard for many laptops in the upper part and in the area of ​​​​the digital block, although, by and large, this does not really interfere with work.

The relatively large touchpad is separated from the main work area. Working with it is quite convenient, and the pointer moves smoothly, without unnecessary jerks. Hidden "mouse" buttons are pressed gently and almost silently.

The 17.3-inch 1920x1080 display has a cinematic aspect ratio, making watching movies much more comfortable. Naturally, LED backlighting is used here - this allows you to reduce power consumption and improve its unevenness. In general, it is worth recognizing that the screen has excellent color reproduction and very good viewing angles. But the values ​​of brightness and contrast could be higher - in our opinion, they are small.

The heart of the laptop is an Intel Core i7 4702MQ processor, complemented by 8 GB of RAM and a discrete video adapter based on the NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M with 4096 MB of its own video memory.

Offline operation in Acer ASPIRE V3 provides battery capacity of 4400 mA. h. Nevertheless, the battery life was not the lowest. So, in the reading mode, the device worked for 4.5 hours, while the "maximum performance" reduced this time to 1 hour.

Dell INSPIRON 5748(average price - 32,000 rubles)

Strictly and stylishly - this is exactly the design of the device that came to us for testing. The metal case of small thickness, smooth contours, excellent workmanship - all this will perfectly fit into the interior of an apartment or a country cottage.

The island-style keyboard is very comfortable. And although the key travel is slightly unusual, it is quite comfortable to work on it. The only thing I didn't like was the noticeable deflection of the keyboard in the center and on the right side.

The touchpad is slightly recessed, which allows you to determine its boundaries by touch. Its dimensions are slightly smaller than those of competitors, but this does not cause any difficulties in work. The movement of the "mouse" buttons is quite large and soft, and although the sound of operation is clearly visible, it is not at all annoying.

The screen diagonal is 17.3 inches with a resolution of 1600 × 900 pixels. Of the advantages of the display, it is worth noting the high brightness and good contrast, as well as a fairly high-quality color reproduction. True, in bright sunlight it glares noticeably, which, however, is typical of most modern laptops.

The heart of the laptop is a powerful Intel Core i7 4510U processor, complemented by 8 GB of RAM and a discrete video adapter based on the NVIDAI GeForce 840M with 2048 MB of its own video memory.

Alas, as practice shows, "large" laptops rarely have a long battery life. So this time, the battery installed in the computer is only enough for 1 hour of intense life - such devices are clearly not designed for a long existence without an electrical network.

Results

Summing up our testing, we declare that all the laptops we tested have excellent performance and, although their portability is sometimes somewhat limited due to their considerable size and relatively short battery life, they cope with household tasks perfectly well. Some difficulties may arise only in demanding system resources games.

As for our preferences, we considered the "Best Buy" Dell INSPIRON 5748, which has good specifications at a relatively affordable price, while the "Editor's Choice" was the ASUS N750JV model - this particular laptop seemed to us the most attractive device with good performance and great design.

The main devices of the computer "live" in the system unit. These include: motherboard, processor, video card, RAM, hard drive. But outside of it, usually on the table, no less important computer devices also “live”. Such as: monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, printer.

In this article, we will look at What does computer consist of what these devices look like, what function they perform and where they are located.

System unit.

In the first category, we will analyze those devices, or they are also called components that “hide” in the system unit. They are the most important for his work. By the way, you can immediately look into the system unit. It is not difficult. It is enough to unscrew the two screws on the back system block and move the cover aside, and then we will see a view of the most important computer devices, in order, which we will now consider.

The motherboard is a printed circuit board that is designed to connect the main components of a computer. Some of them, for example, a processor or a video card, are installed directly on the motherboard itself in a slot designed for this. And the other part of the components, for example, a hard drive or a power supply, is connected to the motherboard using special cables.

The processor is a microchip and at the same time the "brain" of the computer. Why? Because he is responsible for the execution of all operations. How better processor the faster it will perform these very operations, respectively, the computer will work faster. The processor of course affects the speed of the computer, and even very strongly, but the speed of the PC will also depend on your hard drive, video card and RAM. So the most powerful processor does not guarantee a high speed of the computer if the rest of the components are outdated.

3. Video card.

A video card, or otherwise a graphics card, is designed to display images on a monitor screen. It is also installed in the motherboard, in a special connector PSI-Express. Less commonly, a video card can be built into the motherboard itself, but its power is most often enough only for office applications and browsing the Internet.

RAM is such a rectangular bar, similar to a cartridge from old game consoles. It is intended for temporary data storage. For example, it stores the clipboard. We copied some text on the site, and immediately it got into the RAM. Information on running programs, computer sleep mode and other temporary data is stored in RAM. A feature of the RAM is that the data from it is completely deleted after the computer is turned off.

A hard drive, unlike RAM, is designed for long-term storage of files. In another way it is called Winchester. It stores data on special plates. Also recently there has been a proliferation SSD drive and.

Their features include high speed, but there is immediately a minus - they are expensive. A 64 GB SSD drive will cost you the same price as a 750 GB hard drive. Imagine how much an SSD for several hundred gigabytes will cost. Wo, woo! But do not be upset, you can buy a 64 GB SSD drive and use it in the form system disk, that is, install Windows on it. They say that the speed of work increases several times. The system starts very quickly, programs fly. I'm planning to switch to an SSD and keep my regular files on a traditional hard drive.

A disk drive is needed to work with disks. Although it is already much less frequently used, it still does not hurt on desktop computers. At a minimum, a drive will come in handy for installing the system.

6. Cooling systems.

The cooling system is the fans that cool the components. Usually three or more coolers are installed. Be sure to have one on the processor, one on the video card, and one on the power supply, and then on request. If something is warm, then it is desirable to cool. Fans are also installed hard drives and in the body itself. If the cooler in the case is installed on the front panel, then it takes heat, and the coolers installed on the rear compartment supply cold air to the system.

The sound card outputs sound to the speakers. It is usually built into the motherboard. But it happens that it either breaks down, and therefore it is bought separately, or initially the quality of the standard PC owner is not satisfied and he buys another sound system. In general, the sound card also has the right to be in this list of PC devices.

The power supply is needed in order for all the above computer devices to work. It provides all components with the necessary amount of electricity.

8. Housing

And so that the motherboard, processor, video card, RAM, hard drive, floppy drive, sound card, the power supply and perhaps some additional components had to be put somewhere, we need a case. There, everything is neatly installed, twisted, connected and begins daily life, from switching on to switching off. The required temperature is maintained in the case, and everything is protected from damage.

As a result, we get a full-fledged system unit, with all essential devices computer required for its operation.

Peripherals.

Well, in order to fully start working on a computer, and not look at the “buzzing” system unit, we need Peripherals. These include those computer components that are outside the system unit.

The monitor itself is needed to see what we are working with. The video card sends the image to the monitor. They are connected to each other with a VGA or HDMI cable.

The keyboard is designed to enter information, well, of course, what kind of work without a full-fledged keyboard. Type text, play games, surf the Internet, and everywhere you need a keyboard.

3. Mouse.

The mouse is needed to control the cursor on the screen. Move it in different directions, click, open files and folders, call various functions and much more. Just like without a keyboard, without a mouse, nowhere.

4. Speakers.

Speakers are needed mainly for listening to music, watching movies and playing games. Who else today uses columns more than ordinary users reproduce them daily in these tasks.

A printer and a scanner are needed to print and scan documents and everything that is needed in the field of printing. Or MFP, multifunctional device. It will come in handy for all those who often print, scan, make photocopies and do many other tasks with this device.

In this article, we only briefly reviewed the main computer devices, and in others, links to which you see below, we will take a closer look at all the most popular peripheral devices, as well as components that are part of the system unit, that is, components.

Enjoy reading!

I was just thinking about this topic today. And while I was waiting for coffee in Shokoladnitsa, I decided to perform a simple action on the Iphone7 128 gb smartphone - insert a signature picture into a Word document. I used Pages, because Microsoft Word for ios does not open its own file well. On the computer, everything opens wonderfully, but we are talking about mobile version. And the signature image had to be selected from a completely different file. In general, he did what he wanted, you can even then convert it to PDF format so that the signed document can be sent by mail. It was an ordinary text letter on the organization's letterhead. He noted that the fingering was a bit too much, although perhaps this is a matter of habit. A year ago, I fundamentally decided for myself that a computer and a smartphone are enough, but a gadget addict periodically wakes up in me and wonders if a tablet is still needed? A gadget addict is strangled by a toad)) As a result, when there is no computer at hand, you can do something from a smartphone, if we are talking about working in the office package (prizes, documents), tables are still better on a computer. It's just more convenient to manage cells, formatting. You can upload a preza project with pictures and text on a smartphone without any problems, but it’s more convenient to finish it on a big screen. After all, once sitting down at a computer with a screen of 24 inches, or even 27 inches, choose the optimal size of windows (mail, browser, file manager) the processing speed of the incoming information flow is significantly increased. If this is not a “turnover”, but questions that are interesting to solve for a particular person. And of course, it’s convenient to keep the file in the cloud, but here you can choose which one for yourself. Dropbox is perfectly integrated into all systems and mobile applications for ios and android works great. I suppose that Google is on the level, but I personally have questions about Microsoft, for example, including the version for MacOS.
I did not touch on video editing and photo processing. For the level of complexity in these matters is different, for a simple installation of a memorable video with some special effects, mobile iMovie does an excellent job. Well, or Quick from Gopro. They are alike.
I note that we are used to working with computers, on a subconscious level, and mobile applications require a different approach, although I’m being cunning here))) you can perfectly integrate chips from the iPad into the iPhone, but then the profit will fall)) Samsung has a lot of things from tablets, and then everything depends on the usability of mobile software.

@A.Si495 , you have no idea what google drive is capable of :-) in addition to storage, which is absolutely not inferior to dropbox, there is the most gorgeous office suite.
and if you buy a Chromebook with native support for all this joy and the ability to run android software, you will get the best of most worlds :-) a bunch of mobile software, a full-fledged browser, keyboard, touchpad, mouse. microsoft office nafig is not needed in 99.99% of cases. but I don’t want to remember about the Apple office.

@mnemonic , I haven't been friends with Chromebooks yet. I heard about the office suite, which online version. And kmk needs constant access to the Internet. I happen in such wilds, where either the Internet is bad, or it does not exist at all.