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MANAGING EDITOR
Hatim Kantawalla
DEPUTY EDITOR
Jamshed Avari
SENIOR FEATURE WRITER
Kamakshi S, Priyanka Tilve
FEATURE WRITER
Kushal Mamoowala
COPY EDITOR
Sameer Desai
PROJECT COORDINATORS
Rajesh D'Souza, Gautami Chalke
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
Nirmal Biswas
SENIOR DESIGNER
Hemali Limbachiya
ILLUSTRATORS
Sachin Pandit, Chaitanya Surpur
COLOR CORRECTION
Sanjay Shelar
HEAD OFFICE
Intelligent Computing CHIP,Infomedia 18 Limited,
'A' Wing, Ruby House, 2nd Floor, J.K. Sawant Marg,
Dadar (W), Mumbai - 400 028. INDIA
Phone: (91 22) 3024 5000, Fax: (91 22) 30 03 4499
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CONTENTS
PC CONFIGS
4 PLUG AND PLAYThe best specifications for custom
gaming PCs, plus some preassembled
alternatives.
8 WORKING ON THE MOVEComputing options for professionals
who are constantly on the move.
12 CREATING DIGITAL ARTMachines best suited for those who
create art on their PCs.
16 FINAL CUT PRO-FESSIONALSThe perfect specifications for video
editors, and some product options to
complement them.
20 BUILDING BRIDGESSystems and configurations best suited
for architects and engineers.
24 MUSIC MANIAThe best specialized setups for audio
editors and musicians.
28 BASIC PCS FOR THE HOMEThe ideal components for a basic home
PC, plus portable alternatives.
32 PCS FOR STUDENTSPortable PCs light enough to carry
around on campus, yet powerful enough
for all your projects and assignments.
36 THE TV SUBSTITUTEThe ideal config for a home theater PC
with some great products to match.
TECH TALK
40 SUPERSPEED CONNECTI-VITY WITH USB 3.0Everything you need to know about the
latest connectivity standard.
43 THE LATEST IN GRAPHICSPROCESSINGVishal Dhupar from Nvidia tells us all
about the newest graphics tech.
45 NETWORKADMINISTRATOR: AT THEHELMPursue a challenging and fulfilling career
in network administration.
48 FREQBOT: A CELLPHONEPOWERED OMNI-DIRECTIONAL ROBOTA unique robot that can be controlled via
a standard cellphone.
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If you go out computer shopping these days, thesheer amount of technology that is currentlyavailable is sure to overwhelm. If you decide totake opinions from others, you may end up with
some good suggestions, but they may only add to
the confusion. So how do you arrive at the best
setup to suit your needs? Whether youre a gamer,
a digital artist, an animator, a movie maker, a
musician, an engineer, or a student, you can
customize a system to suit your needs perfectly.
But before that, you need to know exactly what
you require out of your PC.
If you are not very hands-on and would rather
not build your own PC, knowing the right set of
specifications and components is enough to help
you pick a system that will let you get the job done
and last you for a few years without needed an
upgrade. Size, form factor, weight, and portability
are also major determining factors and the
importance of these factors varies for each user.
From the various components that make up the
system, to their prices, and the various brands on
offer, youll find everything here. Be it a future-proof machine or something on a shoestring
budget, you will find everything you are looking
for. For those looking for high-end gear, we will
also give you the low down on all the latest tech
advancements making their way into markets
now. You can find a rig to suit nearly every budget,
and with so many options to choose from, make
sure you do your homework, so you can make an
informed decision and build your dream machine.
KAMAKSHI [email protected]
FOREWORD
From the variouscomponents that
make up thesystem, to their
prices, and thevarious brands onoffer, youll find
everything here.
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SachinPandit,
ChaitanyaSurpur
PLUG AND PLAY
GAMING RIGS
Since the advent of advanced gaming consoles, PCs mighthave lost a lot of ground as the best gaming device.Nonetheless, PC gaming is still a big market and users canenjoy the newest and best games on their PCs as long astheyre equipped with the high-end hardware demanded bytodays games.
B Y K U S H A L M A M O O W A L A
PC CONFIGS
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Processor Intel Core i7-2600K 17,000
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H67A-D3H-B3 5,700
RAM 4 x 2 GB OCZ DDR3 1600 MHz 10,000
Hard disk Western Digital Caviar Black 2 TB SATA 12,000
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 30,000
Optical drive LG WH10LS30 10X Blu-ray Burner 14,300
Monitor LG W2486L 24-inch LCD 14,500
Keyboard Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard 4,400
Mouse Logitech G500 Gaming Mouse 4,500
Headset Logitech G35 Surround Sound Headset 6,500
Sound card Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 4,200
PC Case Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATX 7,000
Power supply unit Corsair CMPSU-750TX 6,310
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium 5,200
Cooling System Asetek 570LX Liquid Cooling system 9,000
Other Gamepad, Joystick -
IDEAL SPECIFICATIONS Rs 1,50,610
BRAG PC DB10Rs 1,17,000Intel Core i7-2600K , 8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz,2 TB SATA HDD, P67 Based Chipset, NVIDIAGeForce GTX 580, 2 4-inch Full-HD LCDdisplay, water cooling system.
ALIENWARE AREA 51ALXRs 2,93,800Intel Core i7-990X, 12 GB DDR3, 2 x 1 TBSATA-II 3.0Gb/s HDD, 2 x NVIDIA GeForceGTX 58 0, 24-inch Dell LCD monitor, ALX
Spawce Black Aluminum Case.
BRAG PC RB11Rs 1,06,500Intel Core i7-870, 8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz, 2TB SATA HDD, P67 Based Chipset, NVIDIAGeForce GTX 580, 2 0-inch LED display, highperformance air cooling.
ALIENWARE M18XLAPTOPRs 1,94,240Intel Core i7-2920XM, 16 GB DDR3, 2 x 750GB SATA 3.0Gb/s HDD, 2 x NVIDIA GeForceGTX 460M, 18 WLED Screen, add-on
Logitech keyboard and mouse.
gamSam is a hardcore gamer. He loves playing games ofall genres ranging from action games like Call of Dutyand Assassins Creed, to racing games like Shift 2:Unleashed and even sports games like FIFA 11. Mostlyplaying online, Sam is always aiming to reach the topof the rankings ladder for whatever game hes playing,
which means he needs a crisp and uninterruptedgaming experience.
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gamerMost games that are developed forconsoles like the Playstation 3 and Xbox360 are also available on PC. Then thereare games dedicated for PC gaming.The latest games are sure to test the power of
your GPU and require advanced input devices
made specifically for gaming, along with a fair bit
of raw processing power.
INSIDE THE HOODA hardcore gamer would expect to be in front of
his monitor for hours, playing games without
interruptions. For such usage, a PC needs
strong hardware that takes such loads without
overheating.
PROCESSOR:To get the best gaming experience,
you should equip your machine with a
powerful processor, like the new Intel
Core i7 range of processors. The quad-
core processor is capable of handling the
heavy load that a hardware-intensive
game requires. The onboard graphics
chip can only handle low level graphics.
GRAPHICS:To get the best graphics on offer, you
can aid your CPU with a high-end
graphics card. The Nvidia Geforce GTX
580 is the best graphics card available.
It comes with 1.5 GB GDDR5 memory
and clocks up to 1600 MHz. The GPU
also supports 3D, features an HDMI
port, and houses its own cooling fan.
Two Geforce GTX 580 cards can be used
in combination using SLI technology to
share the video rendering.
MEMORY:Your PCs RAM also plays a key role in
your gaming experience. New games
require a minimum of 2 to 4 GB of RAM, to run
your game at the lowest settings. For more power-
hungry games, you need 8 GB of RAM. DDR3 RAM
at 1600 MHz can handle heavy loads and still give
you a lag-free gaming experience.
STORAGE:Storage is also important for a gamer hoping to play
multiple games on his PC. Most new games require
10-15 GB of free space for installation. This could be
a minimal installation that still accesses your hard
disk for a great deal of data, which could slow down
the game. Both Western Digital and Seagate offer
hard drives in 2 TB and 3 TB capacities, which offer
enough storage space for multiple games.
MOTHERBOARD:In order to put all this great hardware together, you
would need an equally powerful motherboard that is
also future-proof, should you choose to upgrade your
PCs components. The Gigabyte GA-H67A-D3H-B3
with the Intel H67 chipset has 6 PCIe & PCI expansion
slots, multi-GPU support, 8 SATA ports, USB 3.0 and
2.0 ports and most importantly is capable of housing
the Intel i7-2600K processor.
COOLING SYSTEM:Having your machine process such great amounts
of data for lengthy periods means most of the
components will heat up to a fairly
high temperature. Most high level CPUs
and GPUs are equipped with their own
cooling fans, but it is still advisable to use
thermal cooling or a liquid cooling system
to ensure your machine doesnt overheat.
ON THE DESKThe best hardware inside your cabinet will
not be able to give you the best gaming
experience without the best peripherals
at your disposal. Gaming keyboards, mice
and controllers, monitors and headsets
all play a major role in optimizing your
gaming experience.
INPUT DEVICES:Gaming keyboards like the Logitech G15
let you to program complex commands
to a single key; USB ports allow you
to attach more peripherals; and LCD
displays show your saved profiles. The
Logitech G500 gaming mouse gives you
programmable buttons, and it can detect
the smallest of movements for better
accuracy. You can also get a variety of
gamepads and joysticks for games from brands
such as Razer, Steelseries and Roccat.
MONITOR:PS3 and Xbox 360 games are best enjoyed on large
HD LCD TVs. The same also applies to PC games,
which are capable of even higher resolutions. You
can take advantage of the crisp HD output of your
graphics card with a high-end LCD or LED monitor
that supports resolutions of 1080p and higher. A 22 or
24-inch monitor is recommended for an immersive
experience. To take advantage of 3D features, make
sure the monitor supports 3D technology.
FOR MODEST BUDGETSIf you feel that enjoying games
shouldnt cost an arm and a leg, you
can build a custom rig with a lower
configuration that will still let you enjoy
your games on medium settings. Intel
Core i3 or i5 processors are suitable to
run most games and even the latest
games list Intel Core 2 Duo and AMD
Athlon II processors in the minimum
requirements. As long as you have a dual
core processor higher than 2.4 GHz, you
should be able to run most of the latest
games. You can also work with 2 GB of
RAM, though you will be unable to run
other applications in the background. If
you do intend to use reduced RAM, then
you must support it with at least a 256
MB GPU to reduce the load. Graphics
cards based on GeForce 400 series or ATI
Radeon 5400 and 5500 series GPUs are
cheaper alternatives to high-end cards.
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PC CONFIGS
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Processor Intel Core i5-2537M
Motherboard -
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 500 GB
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT540
Optical drive Iomega SuperSlim Portable writer
Screen 11.6-inch HD LED
Keyboard -
Mouse -
Speakers -
Sound card Integrated
PC Case -
Power supply unit -
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
Cooling System -
SPECIFICATIONS
ALIENWARE M11X
Rs 50,100
The Alienware M11x is a relatively cheap gaming laptop that can beeasily customized as a good gaming machine. This setup is suited to acheaper budget and will be able to run most new games.
Processor Intel Core i5-2500K
Motherboard Zotac H55-ITX WiFi Mini-ITX
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 1 TB
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460
Optical drive DVD-R SuperDrive
Screen -
Keyboard -
Mouse -
Speakers -
Sound card -
PC Case SilverStone SG05
Power supply unit -
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
Cooling System Asetek LC 120mm Liquid Cooling
SPECIFICATIONS
V3 GAMING PC MOVERs 53,800
The V3 Gaming PC is equipped with hardware that can support mostnew games. A strong Intel Core i5 processor, ample storage, andsufficient RAM, along with a liquid cooling system make it a greatbudget gaming PC.
Processor Intel Core i5-2500K
Motherboard Intel HM57 chipset
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 500 GB
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT435M
Optical drive DVD-RW
Screen 17.3-inch WLED
Keyboard -
Mouse -
Speakers JBL Waves MaxxAudio
Sound card -
PC Case -
Power supply unit -
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
Cooling System -
SPECIFICATIONS
DELL XPS 17 LAPTOP
Rs 42,630
The Dell XPS 17 is a great mid-priced gaming laptop. The large17-inch screen, Nvidia Geforce graphics, JBL sound and the Intel Corei5 processor are perfect for running games at low or medium qualitysettings.
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dummyname
dummyname
WORKING ON THE MOVE
BUSINESS EXECUTIVE RIGS
The netbook and notebook market has been a boon for those whowish to work on-the-go, and if a large part of your professional lifeis spent outdoors, you need a rugged portable solution with decentbattery life that also lets you multitask with ease.
B Y K A M A K S H I S
SachinPandit,
ChaitanyaSurpur
PC CONFIGS
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9PC CONFIGSFI
Processor AMD Phenom II X2 560 5,480
Motherboard Asus M4A88T-M/USB3 6,060
RAM Strontium 2 x 2 GB DDR3 - 1333 MHz 2,400
Hard disk Seagate Barracuda 720 0.12 1 TB 3,450
Optical dive LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer 1,200
Monitor Benq E2220HD 9,960
Keyboard and mouse Logitech Classic Desktop MK100 725
PC Case Cooler Master Elite 330 2,250
Power supply unit Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 350W 1,680
Operating system Windows 7 Professional 10,690
IDEAL SPECIFICATIONS Rs 43,895
DELL VOSTRO 230SRs 45,375Intel Core 2 Q8400, 2 GB DDR3, 500 GBSATA 3.0Gb/s HDD, E1709W 17-inchWide Screen Flat Panel LCD Monitor, 16XDVD+/-RW drive, One year data warranty.
APPLE MACBOOK AIRRs 79,900Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB DDR3 , 128 GB SSD,13.3-inch high-resolution widescreendisplay, AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
2.1, Two USB 2.0 ports.
LENOVO THINKPADX201 3323AB1Rs 64,300Intel Core i3-380M, 3 GB RAM, 50 0 GBHDD, 12.1-inch LCD, Integreated Graphics,Bluetooth, Ethernet, 3 yr warranty.
SONY VAIOVPCS133GN/BRs 52,990Intel Core i3-370M, 320 GB HDD, 3 GBDDR3, Intel HD Graphics, HDMIOut,1 Yr
International warranty .
Anup is a young business executive and a lot of hiswork involves on-site visits and client meetings. Heneeds his data handy at all times. He also needs toupdate a centralized CMS with client and sales details.What kind of system should he go for?
exec
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execuWhen you are working against tightdeadlines, the time spent in office isntalways enough to get the job done. Itsalso important to not let excess time spent outsidethe office affect your productivity. From video
conferencing and email to word processing and
spreadsheets, portable computing devices allow
you to do all this on-the-go. Although a notebook
would be the best tool to use, a desktop PC can
suffice if you dont move around a lot. Some users
also make do with a netbook or a high-end tablet.
THE REQUIREMENTSMost organizations offer a standard set of
specifications that you can look for and suggest
a configuration and brand according
to a fixed budget. Whether youre
picking components, peripherals or
any software, make sure that there
is adequate support available even if
you are on the move. Other essential
factors that you should consider are
the portability and build quality of the
device as well as the amount of warranty
offered by the manufacturer.
UNDER THE HOODBe it a desktop system or a laptop, the
hardware requirement remains more
or less identical for the business user. While youre
deciding on your systems make up, also consider
custom applications that your organization would
require you to install and new processes that will
be subsequently introduced.
PROCESSOR:As a business executive, most of your work will be
centered around office productivity tools, which
are not very heavy on the processor. A good dual
core processor like the AMD Phenom II X2 560 can
help you switch between applications, process data
and save files with ease.
RAM:Office applications usually tend to hog RAM. So if
you are switching between applications and have
several large files open at once, it can slow down
your system considerably. Since the setup doesnt
perform any graphic intensive work, a 2 x 2 GB
1333MHz DDR3 RAM works fine.
STORAGE:If you are using the device to run promotional
videos or store media kits, you may require a fair
bit of storage space. There also needs to be enough
space to install office productivity applications like
MS Office for all your documents, spreadsheets,
emails, contacts and other customized applications.
Moreover, if your business network lacks a
centralized server to store all the data, you need at
least 1 TB of hard disk space in all.
OPERATING SYSTEM:Because you are using a system that needs to be
accessed on a domain as well, you should go for an
operating system that fits the scenario. Microsoft
Windows 7 Professional will not only offer backward
compatibility to all XP-based applications, but it
also much lighter on your system.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:In an office setting, you would have to
connect to the centralized domain, and
so an Ethernet connection is a mandate.
Apart from that, ensure that you have
output ports that connect to an external
projector if you need to present your
data and statistics. Other essentials that
you need to have on the system include
optical devices like DVD players, data
security features and applications, and
upgrade options, along with USB ports.
ON THE MOVEIf you are using a laptop instead, you would require
a few more things to keep you connected on the go.
CONNECTIVITYIf you are connecting to a network or need to access
the Internet wirelessly, make sure all the required
ports are available on the device. Ethernet, USB and
HDMI ports are quite common, but it is always good
to check the number of available USB ports if you
wish to plug in peripherals, and the connectivity
standard for data transfer speeds on external
storage device like flash drives. Other essential
connectivity options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
SUPPORT AND WARRANTYSince you will be using your system outdoors
a lot, you should know which possible faults in
your machine are covered under warranty and
what kind of help is available, especially if you are
not technically inclined. You also need to know
the period and nature of warranty. A minimum
of one-year warranty period is crucial. Some
manufacturers tend to have quite a long turnaround
time, which can hamper your productivity, so make
sure you pick a brand that is reputed for its after-
sales service.
FOR SMALLER POCKETSIf you are working around a tight
budget, you can get a machine with
a dual core processor (an Intel Atom
processor for a netbook will be good
enough) with 2 GB RAM and 250 GB of
disk space. You can opt for a 16x DVD
writer. However, you cannot do away
with the Ethernet port or Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth support.
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PC CONFIGS
veProcessor Intel Core i5-480M
RAM 3 GB DDR3
Hard disk 500 GB
Screen 14-inch HD
Optical Drive DVD Writer
USB Ports 3
LAN Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1, WLAN
Sound card Dolby Stereo Speakers
Video card ATI 1GB dedicated graphics
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
Battery life 8 hours
Warranty 1 year
SPECIFICATIONS
ACER AS 4820TG
Rs 44,495
The Acer timeline 4820TG laptop is cost effective and is perfectfor rugged use. However, you might want to go for a Windows 7Professional; instead of the Windows 7 Home Premium as it wouldnot help you connect to a LAN setting.
Processor Intel Core i3 -350M
RAM 3 GB DDR3
Hard disk 320 GB
Screen 15.6-inch HD LED
Optical Drive DVD Writer
USB Ports 1
LA N Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1, WLAN
Sound card Mono Speaker
Video card Intel HD Graphics
Operating systemWindows 7 Professional with XPdowngrade
Battery life 8 hours
Warranty 3 years
SPECIFICATIONS
TOSHIBA TECRA A11-I5530Rs 49,990
Toshiba Tecra A11-I5530 makes for a compelling package, and itis very comfortable to use outdoors. While the Windows XP Prodowngrade will help you curb costs, the single USB port is the onlymajor letdown.
Processor Intel Core i3 -350M Processor
RAM 3 GB DDR3
Hard disk 320 GB SATA
Screen 14.1-inch widescreen
Optical Drive DVD Writer
USB Ports 1
LAN Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1, WLAN
Video card Intel HD Graphics
Operating system Windows 7 Home Basic SP1
Office productivityMicrosoft Office Home andBusiness 2010
Battery life 8 hours
Warranty 1 year
SPECIFICATIONS
DELL INSPIRON 14R
Rs 28,400
Dell Inspiron 14R is a high performance system that can be veryhandy even as you grow in your career profile. Moreover, you canalso customize the product to best suit your needs. But make surethat you opt for a Windows 7 Pro instead.
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dummyname
dummyname
dummyname
CREATING DIGITAL ART
RIGS FOR DIGITAL ARTISTS
With the rapid evolution of digital art tools, artistsmight find the need to migrate to newer softwareversions. Here is a setup that will fit your every need.
B Y K A M A K S H I S
SachinPandit,
ChaitanyaSurpur
PC CONFIGS
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PC CONFIGSC
artis
Processor AMD Phenom II X6 1075T 10,180
Motherboard Asus M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 9,240
RAM Corsair CMX8GX3M2A1333 8 GB DDR3 7,010
Hard disk Western Digital Caviar Green 2 TB 4,630
Graphics card NVIDIA Geforce GTS 450 1GB GDDR3 6,500
Optical drive LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer 1,200
Monitor Dell U2211H 21.5 inch W UltraSharp Monitor 11,000
Keyboard Logitech Media Keyboard K200 550
Mouse Logitech MX518 1,600
Tablet Wacom Intuos4 PTK-840 28,700
PC Case Cooler Master CM690 5,479
Power supply unit Corsair TX650W 6,250
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium 5,200
IDEAL SPECIFICATIONS Rs 80,610
APPLE IMACRs 79,900Intel Core i5 quad-core, 4 GB DDR3, 2 56 GBSSD, 1 TB SATA HDD, 512 MB AMD RadeonHD 6770M, FireWire 800 port; 4 USB 2.0ports, 21.5-inch LED D isplay.
SONY VAIOVPCF136FG/BIRs 69,990Intel Core i7-740QM, 50 0 GB HDD, 4 GBDDR3, Blu-Ray Disk ROM Drive, NVIDIA
GeForce GT 425M, 16.4-inch wide, e-SATA.
LENOVO Y560-59-055616Rs 56,990Core i7-740M, 4 GB DDR3, 500 GB HDD, ATIMobility Radeon HD 5730 , HDMI, Bluetooth2.1, Rambo Tray in 12.7mm, 15.6 HD LEDGlare.
Sonu is an aspiring digital artist and wants to explorethe full potential of Photoshop and Illustrator to createhis digital paintings. His friend Rajesh, on the other
hand, wants to develop his proficiency as a layoutartist, and is toying with the idea of becoming a Webdesigner as well. Both of them are photographyenthusiasts too. What kind of machine should theysettle for?
DELL STUDIO XPS7100 DESKTOPRs 60,625AMD Phenom II X6 1090T, 6 GB DDR3, 1 TBSATA HDD, AMD Radeon HD 6450, Dell S T
22-inch W LCD,
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ar is sSome of the most important parameters thatyou need to consider for a digital designersmachine are the processor and GPUsupport along with RAM capacity and softwarecompatibility options. Knowing what kind of work
you need to use the system for will help you arrive
at the best possible setup.
TOOLS FOR PRINT DESIGNERSIf you are in a creative field, that needs you to
come up with artwork using digital tools, create
illustrations, designs, font sets, or work on creatives
the Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 (CS5.5) Design Standard
is the ultimate tool to use. Another notable tool that
is quite popular among the designing community
is CorelDraw X5. If Web designing is
your area of expertise, then you can use
the Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 (CS5.5) Web
Premium package. Another option to
look at is the Design Premium suite.
THE IDEAL SETUPWhile Adobes website gives you
a standard set of recommended
configurations, you will not be able
to do anything beyond installing the
applications on your system and run
them individually. The applications
require a more potent system to run
multiple programs simultaneously and
smoothly. Here is a quick look at a system
that will perfectly suit your needs.
PROCESSOR:If you are going to toggle between lots
of processes and need batch processing
on images while porting data from one application
to another, you need a processor that can handle
all the load with the least possible lag. The AMD
Phenom II X6 is a six-core processor, and at 3.0
GHz, it can easily handle multiple processing tasks.
Moreover, the latest of Adobe products require the
OpenGL software and hardware standard, which
accelerates video processing, or image zooming
and rendering for large or complex images and 3D
models as well, which can work flawlessly with a
strong processor.
OPERATING SYSTEM:This purely depends on brand power. If you are
opting for an Apple product, make sure you get a
Mac OS X v10.6 with ample Flash support. As for
Windows users, given the OpenGL standards, any
thing from the Windows 7 family that runs on the
64-bit mode will work for you.
RAM & GRAPHICS SUPPORT:RAM plays a very important role in running
applications smoothly. Most image editing and
composing software requires a minimum of 2 GB of
RAM. Running several applications on 2 GB of RAM
will not be very convenient so you are better off
getting up to 8 GB of RAM for avoiding any system
lag. Since the work is not very graphics intensive,
you dont really need to spend on a high-range GPU.
Although you would require video rendering when
zooming in and out of raster vector graphics and
base level 3D, an OpenGL standard doesnt really
need too much juice. That is what Nvidia Geforce
GTS 450 offers you with a 1 GB dedicated memory,
along with DirectX 11 and Shader support.
DISK SPACE:While youll require at least 8 GB of
hard disk space for installation across
applications alone, you need another 2 GB
of space to run the application and save
files created in it. Also the applications
usually provide heavy output and back
up files. Moreover, certain features like
brushes and filters require you to have
huge amounts of additional space of up
to work without jerks. A 2 TB hard drive
would be ideal for such work. You can
also add SSDs to your system to speed up
data read and write speeds.
DISPLAY:An LCD screen with IPS (in-plane
switching) is perfect for artists as it
offers the best color-contrast ratio. In
these monitors, the liquid crystals are
aligned horizontally rather than placing them at
angles. Thus you get a clear view of the screen from
vertical viewing angles as well. When compared to
the high levels of brightness and contrast offered
by glare type displays, the color reproduction of
the IPS paneled screens seems almost perfect. It is
also good for professionals who are struggling with
space issues on their workstations. Most of these
applications work well on display settings that are
1280x800 or higher, and a hardware-accelerated
OpenGL graphics card that supports 16-bit color
and is DirectX 9-capable.
PERIPHERAL SUPPORT:Some essential peripherals include graphics tablet,
a good scanner and an optical drive. If you need to
trace images and are comfortable with free hand
art, then the Intuos4 PTK-840 tablet is a good option.
It gives near accurate tilt and pen precision.
FOR SMALLER POCKETSIf you are looking for a cost-effective
short term solution, then you can go
for a less powerful system. However,
you would be compromising on your
systems performance and stability. You
can opt for a dual core processor with
3 GB of RAM and a 512 MB graphics
card. You can cut down on the storage
space to 160 GB with a Windows 7
Home Basic 32-bit operating system.
However, you system will be prone to
lag and some applications may not run
smoothly. Also, you will have to ensure
frequent backups and create restore
points to ensure that your machine
doesnt crash.
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FINAL CUT
PRO-FESSIONALS
RIGS FOR VIDEO EDITORSComputers playa major role in
movie making. Allediting jobs need
high performancemachines or the
final touches on a
movie would takeforever.
BYKUSHALMAMOOWALA
PC CONFIGS
JUNE 2011 INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP INSIDER SUPPLEMENT
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PC CONFIGSPC FI
vide
Processor Intel Core i5-2500K 12,000
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H67A-UD3H-B3 5,700
RAM 4 x 2 GB OCZ DDR3 1600 MHz 10,000
Hard diskWestern Digital Caviar Green 2 TBIntel X25-M 160 GB SSD
7,55020,500
Graphics card NVIDIA Quadro 4000 56,100
Optical driveLG 24x DVD RW SATALG WH10LS30 Blu-ray Drive
1,1505,000
Monitor 2 x LG W2486L 24-inch LCD 29,000
Keyboard DV Keyboard 3.0 5,000
Mouse Logitech V470 Cordless Mouse 2,500
Speakers M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 9,000
Sound card Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium 5,000
Power supply unit Ocz Stealthxstream 2 600W 3,000
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium, Mac OS X 5,200
IDEAL SPECIFICATIONS Rs 1,76,700
APPLE MAC PRORs 1,63,440Intel Xeon Quad-Core, 3 GB DDR3, 1 TBSATA HDD, ATI Radeon HD 5770, 18XSuperDrive, Apple LED 27-inch Display
HP PAVILLION ELITEHPE510TRs 1,01,250Intel Core i5 3.3 GHz, 8 GB DDR3, 500 GBSATA HDD, 2 TB SATA HDD, NVIDIA GeForceGT 440 , Blu-ray writer, 16x DVD drive, 2 x
HP LED 27-inch Displays.
APPLE IMACRs 1,07,900Intel Core i5 3.1 GHz, 4 GB DDR3, 1 TBSATA HDD, AMD Radeon HD 6970M, 8xSuperDrive, Apple LED 27-inch Display
APPLE MACBOOK PRORs 1,42,900Intel Core i7 2.2 GHz, 4 GB DDR3, 750GB HDD, Intel HD graphics 3000, 8xSuperDrive, MacBookPro 17-inch Display.
Aditi spends most of her day in front of her monitorsediting and rendering movies and videos, both
professionally and as a hobby. She uses software likeSmoke, Flame, Avid and Final Cut Studio on a regularbasis and has large amounts of video and audio datato work on.
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vi eo aComputers used for video editing need tohave hardware that can support editingsoftware like Avid Media Composer, Smoke,Flame and Final Cut Studio. Moreover, videoediting is generally a lengthy process and editors
can expect to be in front of their machines for
hours together, which means the hardware needs
to be sturdy enough to handle such loads for long
periods of time.
UNDER THE HOODA video editing machine is required to run mutliple
editing software for a lot of video content. The most
recommended machine for such activity would be
an Apple product that has greater connectivity
options like Firewire ports and newer Thunderbolt
ports. Also, Final Cut Studio and Final
Cut Pro are available only on the Apple
products.
PROCESSOR:Having to work with heavy software for
video editing, any good video editing
machine should have a dual core or
quad core processor. Most editing
applications recommend a dual-core 2.4
GHz processor or higher for installation,
and an Intel Core i5 processor suits
these needs perfectly. With an in-built
graphics chip, the i5 processor can
support your GPU for processing high
resolution HD and 3D videos.
GRAPHICS:The graphics card is the most important
component for video editing. With 3D
technology on the fray and HD editing
being the norm, a strong GPU is vital
for efficient editing. Nvidias 3D Vision
Pro gives stereoscopic 3D solutions for
viewing 3D content and better imagery.
The Nvidia Quadro chip supports 3D
Vision Pro and provides enough processing power
for rendering and editing high quality videos.
MEMORY:A machine for editing is required to run multiple
editing software at the same time. Each software
also requires a decent amount of RAM for smooth
operation. Most of the editing software recommend
2 to 4 GB of RAM required for installation, but keep
in mind that this is enough to support just that
specific program. 4 to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM is good
enough to manage multiple running programs and
video rendering without any delays.
STORAGE:High quality videos require large amounts of
storage space and an editor might have to save
multiple edits of a file before the final product.
Editors also often have large libraries of reference
videos and audio that can eat up a lot of space.
Accessing your software and data quickly is also
essential, which is why having a 150 GB to 200 GB
solid state drive for installations is an advantage.
Along with this, you can add up to 2 TB of HDD
storage to save your work.
OPTICAL DRIVE:High definition and 3D movies and videos are often
written or produced on Blu-ray discs, so having
a Blu-ray drive is very important for any video
editing machine. Along with one Blu-
ray burner, it is also advisable to have a
second DVD burner for copying discs and
writing multiple discs.
CONNECTIVITY:A very important feature that is
present only in Apple Mac products is
connectivity ports. Apples Firewire
ports allow for data transfer at a much
higher rate and you can dump video
content much faster, directly from your
camera. Firewire gives you speeds up to
800MB/s and Apple has developed a new
Thunderbolt port that can transfer data
at 10 Gb/s. You could also choose USB 3.0
ports on your PC for upto 5 Gb/s data
transfer rates.
ON THE DESKHaving the right hardware needs
to be supplemented with adequate
peripherals like monitors, speakers
and input devices. A machine for video
editing should have HD monitors, high-
quality surround sound speakers and
the appropriate input devices to expedite the
editing process.
MONITOR:A high definition 24-inch to 27-inch widescreen
monitor is perfect for a large viewing area. LED
monitors are advisable for getting better color
definition and having a 3D compatible monitor
would be ideal. Editors often choose to have a
dual-monitor setup for playing video on one
monitor and executing the editing process on the
second monitor. Two 24-inch LCD monitors should
be suitable for most editing jobs.
FOR SMALLER POCKETSIf you are trying to put together an
editing PC on a tighter budget, you can
opt for a slightly slower quad-core i5
processor, or you can even get yourself
an Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD X2 dual core
processor. These might not be able to
run multiple software at the same time,
but they still fit within the minimum
requirements for most editing software.
Just like the processors, 2 to 4 GB of
RAM will still allow you to carry out your
work, except at a slightly lower rate, and
will reduce your multitasking options. If
you do not wish to spend too much on
internal storage, you can opt for a single
500 GB or 1 TB hard drive rather than
an SSD. You can also get a portable or
external drive for more storage. For
decent graphics, you can opt for an
entry-level Nvidia Qudro series or an
AMD Radeon Firepro series GPU.
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PC CONFIGS
r is sHP 200Q SERIES
Rs 67,700
The HP 200q series is customizable to suit the configuration fora mid-level editing machine. You can choose dual-monitors andincreased storage as per your needs and you can add external storagedrives and optical drives to maximize your output.
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo 3.1GHz
RAM 4 GB DDR2
Hard disk 1.5 TB
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForve 9400
Optical drive 8x DVDRW Optical Drive
Screen Dell LED 24-inch
Keyboard Logitech MK710 Keyboard
Screen Logitech MK710 Mouse
Speakers Dell 22W
Sound card Integrated
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
SPECIFICATIONS
DELL STUDIO ONE 19Rs 49,800
The Dell Studio One 19 is an entry-level machine as far as editingneeds are concerned. With a Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB RAM, itshould suffice for simple editing tasks and standard quality videos.
Processor Intel Core i5-2410M
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 750 GB
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M
Optical drive Blu-ray + DVD Combo Drive
Screen 15.6-inch HD
Keyboard Standard
Mouse Standard
Speakers Lenovo Stereo Speakers
Sound card Integrated
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
SPECIFICATIONS
LENOVO IDEAPAD Y570 LAPTOP
Rs 42,700
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y570 is a fairly handy laptop for editingpurposes. It has a reasonably strong processor, suitable RAM and
enough storage space for editing on-the-go or for small editing jobs.
Processor Intel Core i5-760
RAM 8 GB DDR3
Hard disk 2 TB
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M
Optical drive Slim-tray Blu-ray player
Screen 2 x HP LED 27-inch
Keyboard HP USB Keyboard
Mouse HP USB Optical Mouse
Speakers Logitech Z506 5.1 System
Sound card Integrated
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
SPECIFICATIONS
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BUILDING BRIDGES
RIGS FOR ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS
Gone are the days when engineers and architects drew upelaborate floor plans on rolls of paper. Its all digital now,but the nature of the work means that a low-end systemjust wont cut it. These tasks have special requirementsas well as specialized software that will be run on thesesystems.
B Y K A M A K S H I S .
SachinPandit,
ChaitanyaSurpur
PC CONFIGS
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PC CONFIGSIGS
archi
Processor Intel Core i7- 920 14,900
Motherboard Asus Sabertooth X58 12,000
Video Card NVIDIA Geforce GTS 450 6,500
RAM 2 x 2 GB Strontium DDR3 2,400
Hard disk Western Digital Caviar Green 1 TB 3,040
Optical dive LG GH22 SATA 22x DVD-writer 1,200
Monitor BenQ V2400 Eco, 24-inch TF T (LED) 16,960
Input devices Waccom Intuos4 X-Large 46,200
Power supply unit Cooler Master Silent Pro M600 6,785
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) 6,590
IDEAL SPECIFICATIONS Rs 1,16,575
APPLE MACBOOK PRO17-INCHRs 1,42,900Intel Core i7 quad-core, 4 GB DDR3, 75 0GB 5400 -RPM SATA HDD, AMD Radeon HD6750M, Intel HD Graphics 3000.
APPLE IMACRs 79,900Intel Core i5 quad-core, 4 GB DDR3, 256GB SSD, 1 TB SATA HDD, AMD Radeon HD6770M, 4 USB 2.0 ports, 8x SuperDrivewith 4x double-layer burning , Apple LED
21.5-inch Display.
DELL XPS 8300DESKTOPRs 69,260Intel Core i7 - 2600, 6 GB DDR3, 1 TBSATA 3.0Gb/s HDD, Dell IN1920 24-inchWide Screen Flat Panel LCD Monitor, 1 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT420.
DELL XPS 15Rs 47,900XPS-15 Core i3-380M, 4 GB DDR3, 500 GBSATA HDD, 1 GB Nvdia GT420M, DVD RW,INT6200 WIDI CARD, Windows 7 Home
Premium, MS Office Starter 2010.
Ria is an architect who specializes in designing livingand commercial spaces. She has tight deadlines tomeet, especially for her commercial clients. Alisha isa mechanical engineer specializing in oil and gas. Sheneeds to create elaborate plans for not just oil drilling,out in the ocean, but she also has to design pipelinesthat carry the same. What system should Ria andAlisha opt for?
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arc i eThe most essential component to considerwhen setting up a system for a structuralengineer or an architect is the graphicscard, as most of the applications used by theseprofessionals are extremely graphics intensive.
You would also require a good amount of RAM to
run the system smoothly, as well as ample storage
space to accommodate large work files.
REQUIRED TOOLSOne of the most popular suites of tools that can
help in architectural, construction, structural,
mechanical and civil engineering or real estate
professions comes from AutoDesk. They offer
customized software packages that can be
put to specific use. These include applications
like AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Raster Design,
Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise, AutoCAD Map
3D, AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite, Autodesk 3DS
Max, Autodesk Collaborative Project Management,
Autodesk Design Review, Autodesk Navisworks,
Autodesk Quantity Takeoff and Autodesk
FMDesktop, just to name a few.
THE IDEAL SETUPThe AutoDesk website offers setup
requirements for both 64-bit and 32-bit
systems. While 32-bit applications work
on any operating system, go for a 64-bit
setup instead.
A 64-bit version will not only utilize
your RAM better as compared to a
32-bit version, but aid the GPU when
rendering 3D structures. Here is a quick
look at a system that will perfectly suit
your needs.
PROCESSOR:Make sure you go for a processor that
can handle large loads. While Intels dual core
systems support 64-bit applications as well, you
might find them lagging at times. The Intel Core
i7- 920 is a processor that is fast enough to run
several applications smoothly, and the integrated
graphics also quickens the entire rendering
process. The four-core structure with turbo
mode ensures that all the four cores function
simultaneously.
RAM:You will probably use multiple applications for
your designing, rendering and editing processes
so you need a fair amount of RAM. When working
with graphics intensive files, you need at least 4
GB of RAM. Moreover, when using a 64-bit setup
you need more RAM to ensure that the system
runs smoothly.
GPU:Keep in mind the graphics intensive nature of
the applications, you will require a good graphics
card with at least 1 GB memory. A mid-range
Nvidia Geforce GTS 450 GPU with a 1 GB dedicated
memory, with DirectX 11 support and shader
support will be enough to start with.
DISK SPACE:The applications each require up to 5 GB of hard
disk space for a complete installation. Thus, you
will require huge amounts of space, not just to
install and run the applications, but also output
and save the files. A 1 TB hard drive would be
ideal for such work.
ON THE DESK:Once you have zeroed in on the kind of system
you need, you will then have to shif t your focus
on what other peripherals you would
require to make work efficiently. Apart
from a widescreen monitor, you will also
need peripherals like a good precision
mouse and keyboard to draft your work
or just a good pro-level digitizer will be
enough. If you need to make frequent
client presentations, make sure you
have a plotter handy too.
DISPLAY:A 24-inch TFT LED screen like the BenQ
V2400 Eco is well suited for CAD use as
it offers easy viewing of large plans that
you would create. Most applications
work well on display settings which
are 1280x800 and above, and the LED
screen will give you better color display and
sharpness. But a full HD monitor like this will
give your architectural walk-through amazing
sharpness. You can also catch a movie on your
free time, if you need a break. However, if you find
the resolution too low, you can pick a dual-screen
monitor setup instead.
PERIPHERAL SUPPORT:Considering the large output files, you will
need a high end graphics tablet that offers a lot
of working area and generous workspace. The
Waccom Intuos4 X-Large comes with as many as
10 nibs to ensure accurate output. If you need to
print these plans, a standard laser printer will not
suffice; go for a good plotter instead.
FOR SMALLER POCKETSIf you are on a tighter budget, you can
go with a dual core processor like an
Intel Core 2 Duo with a 512 MB graphics
card. You can also opt for 2 GB of RAM
and go for a smaller monitor between
17 and 21 inches. You can cut down
on the storage space to 500 GB, and
go with an additional external hard
drive when required. On the peripheral
front, you can opt for a mid-range
digitizer instead of a big one, or opt for
a keyboard-mouse combo instead.
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PC CONFIGS
sProcessor Intel Core i7-740QMRAM 4 GB DDR3Hard disk 500 GB
Screen 16.4-inch wide
Optical Drive Blu-Ray Disk Drive
USB Ports HDMI Output, e-SATA ,Optical Out
LAN Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity Wi-Fi/ BlueTooth 2.1
Sound card Intel High Definition Audio
Video card NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Battery life --
Warranty 1 year
SPECIFICATIONS
SONY VAIO VPCF136FG/BI
Rs 69,990
The latest F series models from Sony Vaio offer a lot of promise witha power packed set up. Thanks to its f ull HD display and the Blu-RayDrive, your projects and walkthroughs will come alive on screen.
Processor Intel Core i5-450M
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 640 GB
Screen 15.6-inch HD LED Glare
Optical Drive DVD Writer
USB Ports --
LAN Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1
Video cardGraphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD5730 Black
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
Office productivity --
Battery life --
Warranty 1 Year warranty
SPECIFICATIONS
LENOVO Y560 59-052245
Rs 56,500
Lenovo Y560 series offers power-packed configuration list, that tooat very affordable prices. Moreover Lenovo notebooks are best suitedfor rugged usage.
Processor Intel Core i5 2410M
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 640 GB
Screen 15.6-inch
Optical Drive DVD Writer
USB Ports 3 USB 2.0
LAN Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity Bluetooth/ Wi-Fi
Video card 1 GB Graphics
Operating system Windows 7 Basic
Office productivity Office Starter 2010
Battery life --
Warranty --
SPECIFICATIONS
HP PAVILION G6-1004TX
Rs 43,156
HP Pavilion G6-1004TX is a high performance system that can bevery handy even as you grow in your career profile. It comes with anOffice 2010 Starter kit, which doesnt feature Outlook 2010.
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MUSIC MANIA
AUDIO EDITING RIGS
Musicians require specialised PCs for their compositionand editing needs. PCs with high end sound cards andspecial inputs for musical instruments for recording canbe configured for the best music recording.
B Y K U S H A L M A M O O W A L A
SachinPandit,
ChaitanyaSurpur
PC CONFIGS
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The components of an audio artists PC arevery specific to its usage. If you wish tocompose or edit music at a professionallevel, then you need to ensure that you have the
hardware that suits the requirements of software
like Avid Pro Tools, Logic Studio or Nuendo. Using
less demanding software, on the other hand,
can reduce the cost of building a hardcore audio
editing PC.
UNDER THE HOODSoftware applications like Avid Pro Tools and
Nuendo have very specific requirements for
optimal usage. Along with the components to
suit this hardware, you can also add a high-end
sound card that gives you better output and
more input options as well as a digital
audio interface for low latency. Apple
Logic Studio functions only on Apple
machines, so you have no option for
putting together your own PC for this
tool.
PROCESSOR:Both Pro Tools and Nuendo require
a quad core processor and one that
functions at 3.0 GHz or more is
recommended, so the Intel Core i7
series is the best option. You can also
choose an Intel Xeon range processor.
GRAPHICS:Although the GPU does not play a big
role in music editing, a good graphics
processor is required by high-end
software and it also takes some load off
the CPU, giving you faster performance.
The Avid Pro Tools software does not
work without an Nvidia graphics card.
The NVIDIA Geforce GTS 450 is well
suited for such a setup.
MEMORY:Music rendering, editing and composition
demands a large amount of RAM, so it is advisable
to have at least 8 GB of RAM if you are going to
use professional music editing tools. Although
most software state 4 GB to be the mnimum
requirement, it might be difficult to work with
multiple applications or multitask without more
RAM.
STORAGE:Music editing software takes up large amounts
of storage space due to the libraries of stock
sounds and audio clips. Avid Pro Tools requires up
to 32 GB free for all software and libraries to be
installed. Add to that your own library of audio
files and it is clear that you need a lot of storage
space. A 240 GB SSD drive is suitable for booting
and installation of all your software, and coupled
with 4 TB of hard drive space, youll have all your
storage needs covered.
AUDIO:You will require a good sound card for better
sound quality and input options as well as good
speakers for crisp sound. The Asus Xonar Essence
sound card gives you the option of 7.1 channel
sound and high end sound quality via an RCA jack,
Coaxial/Toslink and Aux-in 4 pin connectivity.
ON THE DESKMusicians and audio editors will require
a few peripherals for their specialized
machines to make their tasks easier.
Apart from their musical instruments,
there are Digital to Analog Converters
(DACs) and Digital Audio Interfaces
that you can add to improve the sound
quality of your inputs. There is also the
obvious need for high quality speakers
for clear and crisp sound.
DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE:The Apogee Duet Digital Audio Interface
allows you to plug your musical
instrument into its breakout cable
and record music. The hardware is
accompanied by Maestro software, which
allows you to control various aspects
of your audio input. With Firewire
connectivity and very low latency, the
Apogee Duet is great for any musical
artists wanting to record their music.
EXTERNAL DEVICES:Based on your usage, you can also add external
DAC devices to your machine as well as musical
instruments. A DAC (Digital to Analog Converter)
helps generate better sound from the digital audio
information on your PC. Adding a USB or Firewire
DAC to your machine can also give you better
sound.
SPEAKERS:High quality speakers are important and the
Yamaha SP5S 40 Watt Studio Monitor gives you
professional quality sound for your editing
needs.
FOR SMALLER POCKETSIf you are on a tighter budget, you
can opt for a cheaper machine, but
will have to accept that all high end
music editing software might not run
smoothly on it. You can opt for a lower
grade quad-core processor like an Intel
Core i3 or i5. You can also reduce the
RAM to 4 GB and should still be able to
run your editing software individually
and cut down on multitasking. The
storage space is cullable as well, and
you can choose a smaller sized hard
drive and avoid the expensive SSD. If
you do require more storage space, you
can get an external or portable drive
of up to 500 GB. Most motherboards
have integrated sound cards so you
can avoid the high end sound card and
replace the expensive studio monitor
with a good quality headset.
Tools requires upTools requires up
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a ot o storageot o storageiThe components of an au io artists PC arehe compo nts of a io artist C arei i very specific to its usage. If you wish toery spec c to its usage. If you ish tocompose or e it music at a pro essionacompose e it music at a pro ionaeve , t en you nee to ensure t at you ave t eeve , t en y o ensure t at y e soun s an au io clipssoun s a io clipsto 32 GB free for all sto 32 GB free for all sinsta e . A to t atinsta e . A to t atfi es an it is c ear ts an it is c ear
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PC CONFIGS
Processor Intel Core i3-2100
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 500 GB
Graphics card AMD Radeon HD 6350
Optical drive DVD Writer
Screen -
Keyboard HP PS/2 Standard
Mouse HP PS/2 Standard
Speakers -
Sound card EMU 1212m PCIe
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
SPECIFICATIONS
HP 8200 ELITE XL510AV-SEB COMPACT
Rs 50,100
This HP 8200 Elite machine is easily configurable to suit your needs.With 500 GB of storage and 4 GB RAM it is a good option for simplemusic editing tasks.
Processor Intel Core i5-460M
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 500 GB
Graphics card Integrated Graphics
Optical drive DVD Writer
Screen 14-inch HD LCD
Keyboard Standard
Mouse Trackpad
Speakers Dolby Stereo Speakers
Sound card Integrated Sound card
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
SPECIFICATIONS
ACER AS 4820T LAPTOP
Rs 39,900
The Acer Aspire series laptop is a good option for musicians andeditors on the go. With good quality speakers and ample RAM forlighter software, its a great budget option for audio editing.
Processor Intel Core i3-500
RAM 6 GB DDR3
Hard disk 1 TB
Graphics card Integrated Intel Graphics
Optical drive DVD Writer
Screen -
Keyboard Dell USB Entry Keyboard
Mouse Dell USB Optical Mouse
Speakers Inspire T12 Stereo Speakers
Sound card Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium
SPECIFICATIONS
DELL INSPIRON 580
Rs 26,600
The Dell 580 is a really affordable option with powerful hardware.Up to 1 TB of storage and 6 GB of RAM means you can use it formost editing software and storing your media. It also supports 7.1surround sound formats.
i ors
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BASIC PCS FORTHE HOME
HOME PCS
Any modern day housewife will spend a fair amount of timeon the PC. Browsing Facebook, Youtube and other socialsites, sharing photos and videos, and accessing email aregenerally the most used services on the home PC.
B Y K U S H A L M A M O O W A L A
SachinPandit,
ChaitanyaSurpur
PC CONFIGS
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PC CONFIGSIGS
hous
Processor AMD Athlon II X2 240 3,200
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 3,000
RAM OCZ 2 GB DDR3 1,250
Hard disk Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500 GB 1,900
Graphics card Integrated -
Optical drive Samsung 20X DVDRW 1,100
Monitor Samsung 540N15-inch LCD 7,500
Keyboard Microsoft wired keyboard 600 770
Mouse Microsoft Compact Optical Mouse 700
Speakers Creative SBS A35 2.0 stereo Speaker 500
Sound card Integrated -
Other Webcam, Headset -
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium 6,590
IDEAL SPECIFICATIONS Rs 26,510
DELL INSPIRON 580SRs 29,000Intel Core i3-550, 4 GB DDR3, 320 GB SATAHDD, 16X DVDRW, USB Keyboard, USBMouse, Windows 7 Home Premium
ACER EME 730NOTEBOOKRs 27,000Intel Core i3-330, 1 GB DDR3, 250 GB SATAHDD, 8X DVDRW, 15.6-inch Display, Lipus
Moblin LINUX
HP 500B MICROTOWERRs 22,400Intel Pentium E5700, 2 GB DDR3, 320 GBSATA HDD, 16X DVDRW, USB Keyboard, USBMouse, Windows 7 Home Premium
DELL VOSTRO V230SRs 24,000Intel Pentium E5700, 1 GB DDR3, 320 GBSATA HDD, 18.5-inch Monitor, StandardKeyboard/mouse, DOS
Shilpa is a housewife who enjoys spending her time onFacebook to keep in touch with friends and relatives.She also uses her home PC to store photos, downloadmusic and video chat. Skype, Picasa, Microsoft Wordand other basic software are all that she needs.
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Building a PC for the home use shouldnt betoo hard. For a home user expecting to usesoftware like Skype, Microsoft Word, andPicasa, and browse the Internet, you would need
an average processor and a standard motherboard
with a few USB ports. A standard sized cabinet
with ample RAM and storage space is well suited
for such use.
UNDER THE HOODThe hardware components inside a home PC are
relatively cheap and easy to come by. You should
not have to go through much trouble finding a
decent processor, hard drive and RAM, and a
motherboard suited for these components will not
be too hard. You do not even have to worry about
a dedicated graphics or sound processor as most
motherboards have integrated chips
that can handle simple loads.
PROCESSOR:A dual core processor clocking over 2
GHz is more than capable of handling
your day-to-day usage. AMD Athlon II
X2 is an inexpensive dual core processor
and gives better speed than an Intel
processor at the same price.
MEMORY:Word processing, video chat and
Web browsing software are not very
RAM-hungry and 2 GB of RAM is
fine for running these programs and
multitasking. You can use two 1 GB
memory sticks if you wish to use dual
channel memory for faster performance,
but even a single 2 GB stick is capable of
giving you decent performance.
STORAGE:A home PC would be used to store photos, video,
music and miscellaneous documents. A 250 GB
hard drive gives you more than enough space for
these storage needs along with the space required
for software installations. A SATA 3 Gb/s HDD is
well suited for a home PC, and if you wish to add
more space, you can get an external storage drive
as well.
OPTICAL DRIVE:You can expect to use a few CDs and DVDs with
your home PC, so getting a DVD reader and writer
will be beneficial. The speed of the drive is not very
important and anything over 8X should suffice.
The Samsung 20X DVD RW is a good, affordable
DVD drive for home use. If you wish to copy discs
you can add another drive as well.
CONNECTIVITY:Your home PC will probably be used to transfer
photos from digital cameras and add music to
your PMPs, so look out for 3-4 USB ports on your
machine. You might need more ports if you are
going to use USB input devices, so make sure
your machine is well equipped for connecting
peripherals. You can look out for machines with
built-in card readers for transfering data from
memory cards.
ON THE DESKA basic PC for home use would not require many
peripherals apart form a monitor, standard input
devices like a keyboard and mouse and
a set of PC speakers. Depending on your
intended use, you can add a microphone
or headset, a printer or MFD and external
storage devices like portable hard drives
and USB flash drives.
MONITOR:A PC for home usage should generally
have a 15 or 17-inch monitor for easy
viewing. If you are going to sit at a desk
and use the machine for a few hours, you
will need a big screen for comfortable
viewing. An LCD monitor is a good choice
as it will occupy less space on your table.
INPUT DEVICES:You will not need more than a standard
keyboard and mouse for general use.
Check the connection interface for your
input devices and make sure they are
comaptible with your motherboard.
Keyboards and mice have PS/2 or USB
connectors, so if you wish to have a few USB ports
free, you can opt for a PS/2 keyboard and mouse.
PRINTER:If you are going to use your home PC for writing
basic documents and making flight or hotel
reservations, you can add an inkjet printer to print
out receipts and tickets.
PERIPHERALS:Other peripherals that you can consider include
a good set of 2.0 stereo speakers or a headset for
video chatting. You can also include an external
memory card reader if your machine doesnt
already have one.
FOR SMALLER POCKETSIf you do not want to spend too much
money on your home PC, which you do
not intend to use for long hours, you
can get a notebook or netbook instead.
A notebook with a relatively simple
configuration can come for less than
Rs 30,000 and netbooks are a more
economical option. You can choose a
single core processor like one of Intels
Atom series processors, downgrade to
1 GB of RAM and opt for lesser storage
space to save some money. Keep in mind
though that netbooks and notebooks
have smaller screens, so they are not
fit for prolonged usage. Also note that
netbooks do not have optical drives so
you will have to get an external CD/DVD
reader if you need one.
Buil ing a PC for the home use shoul nt eing a PC r the ho e sh ul etoo har . For a home user expecting to usehar . For home user expecting t useso tware i e S ype, Microso t Wor , anware i ype, Microso t Wor n,Picasa, an rowse t e Internet, you wou neePi o ternet, you woi i
DVD rive for home use. If you wish to copy iscsDVD rive for e use. If you wish py iscs
you can a another rive as well.you can a ano er rive as well.
CONNECTIVITY:CONNEC
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PORTABLE PCS FORHIGHER STUDIES
RIGS FOR STUDENTS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION
Educational institutions that impart higher academiccourses often insist on portable computers for all theirstudents on campus. Here is a look at systems that can helpyou study effectively.
B Y K A M A K S H I S
SachinPandit,
ChaitanyaSurpur
PC CONFIGS
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PC CONFIGSO F S
stud
Processor Intel Core i7-920 14,900
Motherboard Asus Sabertooth X58 12,000
Video Card Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 7,200
RAM Corsair Value 4 GB DDR3 2,800
Hard disk Seagate Barracuda 720 0.12 500 GB SATA HDD 2,000
Optical dive LG DVD Writer 16x Dual Layer 1,185
Monitor Asus VH197D 18.5-inch LED Monitor 5,800
Input devices Logitech Classic Desktop MK100 725
Power supply unit Ocz Stealthxstream 2 600W 2,885
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium 6,590
IDEAL SPECIFICATIONS Rs 56,085
SONY VAIO EAVPCEA46FG/B/L/WRs 42,990Intel Core i5-480M, 320 GB SATA HDD, 4GB DDR3, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470,Windows 7 Home Premium.
APPLE MACBOOKRs 69,900Intel Core i5, 4 GB DDR3 , 320 GB SATAHDD, Intel HD Graphics 3000, 3.3-inch(diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreendisplay, Gigabit Ethernet port, 2 USB 2.0
ports,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1.
HP PAVILION DV6-6016TXRs 46,592Intel Core i5 2410M, 4 GB DDR3, 500 GBSATA HDD, 15.6-inch screen, 1 GB Graphics,Windows 7 Home Premium.
DELL INSPIRON 15RRs 42,900Intel Core i5, 4 GB DDR3, 500 GB SATAHDD, Intel HD Graphics, Integrated 10/100Ethernet LAN, 15.6-inch Widescreen HD
WLED screen, 1 year warranty.
Rita is pursuing an MBA and Isha is pursuing herMasters in Engineering. Both plan to study even furtherand they need a laptop for academic purposes. Althoughthey both use a desktop PC at home, they need a fullyfunctional notebook to carry when on the campus. Whatkind of devices should they opt for?
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PC CONFIGS
sProcessor Core i3 350M/370
RAM 3 GB DDR3
Hard disk 320 GB
Ports HDMI
Screen 15.6-inch HD LED
Graphics NVIDIA 420 1GB DedGrp
Sound Integrated
Optical Drive DVDRW
Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1+
Operating System Windows 7 Home Basic
Warranty 1 year
SPECIFICATIONS
ACER ASPIRE 5742G
Rs 35,500
If cost is an issue, the Acer aspire 5742Gis the best option to look at.If offers quite an impressive list of specifications especially for thosewho are on a tight budget.
ProcessorIntel Core i3 Processor 370M,2.4 GHz,
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 320 GB
Ports --
Screen 15.6-inch LED
Graphics Integrated
Sound Integrated
Optical Drive --
Connectivity
Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium
Warranty 1 year warranty
SPECIFICATIONS
TOSHIBA L650-I5311
Rs 42,636
Although the Toshiba L650-I5311offers an Intel Core i3 processor,nothing is said about the number and nature of connectivity ports.However it is very rugged for outdoor usage.
Processor Intel Core i5-460M
RAM 3 GB DDR3
Hard disk 500 GB
Ports --
Screen 15.6-inch HD LED Glare
Graphics Integrated
Sound Integrated
Optical Drive DVD Writer
Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1
Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium
Warranty 1 year
SPECIFICATIONS
LENOVO IDEAPAD Z560 59-052666
Rs 38,090
The Lenovo IdeaPad z560 comes in a number of variants, so wehave picked what is closest to our best configuration. If price is aconstraint, you can opt for one with a pre-loaded DOS operatingsystem instead.
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PC CONFIGSP I
cine
Processor Intel Core i3-550 6,830
Motherboard Asus P7H55-M PRO 6,670
RAM OCZ 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM 2,250
Hard disk 2 x Western Digital Caviar Green 2 TB 15,100
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 4,000
Optical drive LG Super-Multi Blu-ray Combo Drive 4,800
Monitor -
Keyboard IOGEAR Multimedia Keyboard 2,835
Mouse -
Speakers -
Power Supply Antec NeoPower 650 5,800
TV Tuner card Hauppauge 1213 WinTV-HVR-2250 8,680
PC Case Silver Stone LC16B MR220 12,000
IDEAL SPECIFICATIONS Rs 68,965
APPLE MAC MINIRs 37,900Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB DDR3 , 320 GB SATAHDD, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, 8x SuperDrive.,Mac OS X.
ACER ASPIRE 5750GRs 41,200Intel Core i5, 4 GB DDR3, 500 GB SATA HDD,NVIDIA GeForce GT540M, DVDRW Drive.
BRAG PC SAMBARs 52,000AMD Phenom X4-630, 4 GB DDR3, 4 TBSATA HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4350, Blu-rayDVD Combo drive.
BRAG PC TR7Rs 53,000Intel Core i5-760, 4 GB DDR3, 1 TB SATAHDD, NVIDIA GTX-460 Fermi, DVD Writer.
Karan is a movie buff and loves to recreate thecinematic experience at home. He downloads movies
in high definition and rents DVDs and Blu-rays of hisfavorite movies and watches them in the comfortof his home with a full HD and surround soundexperience.
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cinep iHome theatre PCs or HTPCs are uniquecomputers designed to be silent andcompact giving you the best movieexperience. Most importantly you need yo look outfor a machine that is low on power consumption,
high on graphics, and offers a variety of
connectivity options.
UNDER THE HOODA modern day HTPC must be able to play high
definition videos at 720p or 1080p, stream videos
and play Blu-rays and DVDs. Most importantly,
your PC needs to be inconspicuous, but yet able to
connect to an HD monitor or TV.
PROCESSOR:Your processor should be powerful
enough to run media players, but not so
overpowered that it requires additional
cooling. A dual core processor from the
Intel Core i3 series with its integrated
graphics is perfect for HD viewing and is
efficient with power consumption too.
MOTHERBOARD:After choosing your processor, it is best
to find a compatible motherboard with
a small form factor, but one that offers
GPU, HDMI and SATA support. The Asus
P7H55-M Pro with the micro ATX form
factor gives you HDMI, DVI and VGA
output ports along with PCIe and SATA
ports.
GRAPHICS:If you wish to watch 3D and HD videos,
you need to have a strong GPU. Nvidias Geforce GT
430 graphics supports Nvidia 3DTV Play software
that allows you to watch 3D Movies on your
3D-compatible HDTV. Most compact GPUs are also
available in graphics cards with a fan-less design,
which minimizes noise.
MEMORY:The software you will use will not demand much
RAM. Having 2 to 4 GB RAM will ensure that you
have a smooth movie watching experience. It is
important to note the type of memory technology
your motherboard supports, as different HTPC
motherboards support different forms of RAM,
such as standard DDR3 or SO-DIMM.
STORAGE:Storage is very important for a good HTPC. You need
ample storage space for your movies. You can add
up to 4 TB of hard drive space to ensure that you
will always have enough room for your HD movies.
You can also use a small, but faster SSD for booting
and a 1-2 TB HDD for storage. Make sure you have
the comaptible SATA ports on your motherboard
before buying your storage hardware.
OPTICAL DRIVE:High quality movies are best viewed from Blu-ray
discs, so getting a Blu-ray drive for you HTPC will
improve your viewing experience. It is better to
get a combo drive that reads both Blu-ray and DVD
formats rather than separate Blu-ray and DVDRW
drives that take up more space. The LG Super-Multi
Blu-ray Combo Drive is perfect for such
requirements.
CONNECTIVITY:Having an HTPC that is unable to
connect to an HD monitor or HDTV is
pointless. You need to ensure that your
motherboard and graphics have ports
for HDMI, DVI or VGA. Note that HDMI
is the preferred HD connection interface
as it carries both audio and video data.
DVI, on the other hand, supports only
video data. Add a TV tuner card to watch
television on your monitor.
ON THE DESKFor an HTPC, all you need is a display
and a keyboard as an input device. Apart
from these two essentials, you can get
a remote for your HTPC, to sit back and
control your media.
MONITOR:You can choose to get a HD monitor for your
machine or you can choose to use your HTPC with
an HDTV. Ensure that your display has adequate
ports for connectivity and is capable of at least
1080p resolution. If your PCs GPU supports it, you
could look for a 3D-capable display.
INPUT DEVICES:Having a wired keyboard and mouse will restrict
your distance from your screen. You are better off
getting a wireless keyboard. Using a wireless mouse
is also not essential if you can get a keyboard
with a touchpad or trackball like the IOGEAR
Multimedia Keyboard. It has programmable keys
and a long distance wireless receiver so you can sit
back and control your HTPC from a distance. You
can also consider a programmable IR remote for
your PC.
FOR SMALLER POCKETSIf you are on a tighter budget, you can
swap the Core i3 processor for another
dual core processor that can handle the
load of media players with ease. The
Intel Atom D525 is a good substitute
or you can even opt for an AMD Athlon
dual core processor. Keep in mind that
your motherboard with have to be
compatible with your processor. You
can also skip the 3D graphics card if
you get a motherboard with integrated
graphics that provides for HD support.
You can also save money with a smaller
hard drive up to 500 GB in size. You
could skip the Blu-ray drive, but then
you will have to rely more on DVDs for
your movies.
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PC CONFIGS
esProcessor Intel Atom D525Motherboard -RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard disk 500 GB
Graphics card NVIDIA Ion
Optical drive USB Blu-ray Combo drive
Screen -
Keyboard -
Mouse -
Speakers -
Sound card -
PC Case -
Power supply unit -
Ports USB 2.0, HDMI, DVI, VGA
TV Tuner card Yes
SPECIFICATIONS
XTREAMER ULTRA
Rs 15,500
The new Xstreamer Ultra is a great budget HTPC. With a dual coreprocessor and Nvidia GeFroce 9400 GPU, the Xstreamer is perfect forstreaming and playing HD videos.
Processor AMD E-350
Motherboard -
RAM 2 GB DDR3
Hard disk 250 GB
Graphics card AMD Radeon HD 6310
Optical drive Blu-Ray / DVD RW drive
Screen -
Keyboard -
Mouse -
Speakers -
Sound card -
PC Case -
Power supply unit -
Ports USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, VGA
TV Tuner card No
SPECIFICATIONS
ZOTAC ZBOX-AD03BR-PLUS-E
Rs 29,999
The Zotac Zbox is a compact nettop with a decent dual core processorand is fully Blu-ray compatible. It offers USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI and VGAconnectivity making it a great next generation budget HTPC.
Processor Intel Atom D525
Motherboard -
RAM 2 GB DDR2
Hard disk 250 GB
Graphics card NVIDIA Ion
Optical drive 4x Blu-ray, 8x DVDRW
Screen -
Keyboard -
Mouse -
Speakers -
Sound card -
PC Case -
Power supply unit -
Ports USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, VGA
TV Tuner card No
SPECIFICATIONS
ZOTAC ZBOX BLU-RAY HD-ID34
Rs 22,500
Classified as a nettop, the Zotac Zbox is a great compact, low-costHTPC. With a dual core processor and Nvidia Ion graphics it iscapable of giving you a great HD video viewing experience.
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USB3.0 is here and promises to change the way we store data on an external
storage drive, even though it may not significantly change the usage of input
devices. Here is all you need to know about the USB 3.0 SuperSpeed standard.B Y K A M A K S H I S
When Intel first declared the launch ofthe USB 3.0 standard in late 2008, it hadmade it very clear that it will not certifydevices as USB 3.0 compliant if they do not live up
to the promised transfer speeds, which is one of
the reasons for the delay in the technology making
it to the market. Here is what the long awaited USB
3.0 has in store.
UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPTOF USB
First launched in 1996,
the Universal Serial
Bus is a connectivity
standard that is used
not only to establish
connection between
devices and a host
controller, but also to
transfer data.
The user-friendly,
cost-effective nature of
the standard ensured
that it replaced a
variety of other
interfaces, which
include the serial
as well as the
parallel ports.
TECHNICALLYFASTER
USB 3.0 is the long awaited successor to the USB
2.0 standard. USB 3.0, or the SuperSpeed USB as it
is often referred to, offers data transfer speeds of
up to 5 Gbps, ten times that of USB 2.0 and better
device connectivity. The seemingly simple feat
has been achieved using a number of technical
changes, of which the most obvious and interesting
is adding more physical bus parallel to the existing
USB 2.0 bus. In simple words, where USB 2.0 had
four wires for power supply, earthing, and a couple
for differential data, USB 3.0 doubles the number
to eight, allowing it to receive and transmit data
faster. USB 3.0 further uses a bi-directional data
interface as compared to a half-duplex setup
in USB 2.0, so data could flow only in a single
direction at a given point. Using this technique,
the theoretic bandwidth increases by 10 folds.
However, the system has been designed in such a
way that an increase in data flow doesnt consume
any more power than necessary.
ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIESIf you dont wish to shift to USB 3.0, you can still
avail of data rates is faster than USB 2.0. The
external SATA port (eSATA) has now become a
standard on most in PCs and notebooks. While it
offers up to 300 MByte/s, the teething troubles
My Book and My Passport HDD from
Western Digital are USB 3.0 Compliant.
TECH LEXICON: USB 3.0
SUPERSPEEDCONNECTIVITY WITHUSB 3.0
TECH TALK
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Mbps full duplex, which proves that USB 3.0 is at
least six times faster.
Another factor that tips scale in USB 3.0s favor
is that it is faster than both, and also supplies
power, instead of drawing power from the system
itself, making it a greener technology. It also
boasts better power management features, which
means that if devices are not in use, they can
be switched to idle, suspend, and sleep modes,
which in turn will optimize the battery life of not
just devices like laptops and PC, but also other
battery-based USB devices such as cameras and
smartphones.
USING USB3.0 WITH YOURCURRENT SETUP
USB 3.0 is now readily available, but it is hardware
dependent. If you are unable to get a motherboard
replacement, or dont want to incur the high cost
of a PC upgrade, there is still a way out. You can get
a connector for the standard that can go into your
PCI Express port. However, if your motherboard
lacks the port, you have no other choice but to
upgrade.
If you are looking for USB 3.0 compliant setups,
there are quite a few options at your disposal. CES
2010 saw two motherboards by Asus and Gigabyte
that supported USB 3.0. USB 3.0 host controllers are
now being manufactured by the likes of Renesas/
NEC Electronics, Fresco Logic, Asmedia, Etron, VIA
Labs, Texas Instruments and Nvidia. In the same
year, Hewlett-Packard released the HP Envy 17 3D
with a Renesas USB 3.0 host controller. AMD is also
closely working with Renesas to release chipsets
supporting USB 3.0 in 2011. CES 2011 saw Toshiba
announce the USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 3.0 compliant
Toshiba Qosmio X500. Sony also announced a series
of Vaio laptops that will support USB 3.0. Dell has
also incorporated USB 3.0 into its Inspiron and Dell
XPS lines.
On the device front, there are only a handful
options, including products from brands
like Western Digital, Transcend and Seagate.
Transcends StoreJet 25H3P 1 TB USB 3.0 portable
hard drive (Rs 9,900) and Seagates FreeAgent
GoFlex Upgrade Cable USB 3.0 (Rs 5,400) are
already on sale. Western Digital has the My
Passport Essential 500 GB (Rs 4,299), the My
Passport Essential SE 750 GB (Rs 5,499) and 1 TB
(Rs 6,499), and the My Book Essential 1 TB (Rs
4,999), 2 TB (Rs 7,499), and 3 TB (Rs 10,999).
SeaGate's FreeAgent GoFlex Upgrade Cable for USB 3.0 gives you
high data transfer speeds with the FreeAgent GoFlex Desk HDDs.
The StoreJet 25H3P 1TB portable hard drive from Transcend alsocomes with USB 3.0.
You can get an USB 3.0 to your existing system with a connector thatcan be added to the PCI-E slot.
TECH TALK
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Technology is constantly evolving and being on top of the game is the role ofthe Network Administrator. If you wish to have a long fulfilling career in IT,then this is a great profile for you.
B Y P R I Y A N K A T I L V E
CAREERS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
TThe role of a Network Administrator maynot seem glamorous, but rest assured,it commands a lot of respect as he is theone who manages all the computers and ensures
seamless connectivity across the network.
Much like the captain of a ship, he performs a
wide array of duties right from configurations,
firewalls, security, troubleshooting to
managing the resources and implementing new
technologies.
We spoke with Bina Raj-Debur, Regional Head,
Corporate Affairs, India/SAARC, Cisco about the
challenges and opportunities involved in becoming
a successful Network Administrator.
What is the role of the NetworkAdministrator?
The role of a Network Administrator can
range from basic network management to a more
complex role, depending on domain expertise,
experience, complexity of the network and the
individuals potential and aspirations.
The primary role of a Network Administrator
is to manage the components of a network,
including:
Switches, routers, firewalls, Wi-Fi controllers,
Wi-Fi access points, etc
Configuration of network equipment
Management and coordination of network
changes
Troubleshooting and resolving network related
issues
Executing network projects, possibly even
designing networks
In what ways has the role evolvedespecially with the current virtualizationtrend (like cloud) seen in the IT sphere?
The advent of virtualization has transformed
the role of a Network Administrator at two levels.
By reducing the physical complexity of a data
center, it has contributed towards making network
management more efficient and productive.
Secondly, as virtualized environments get more
sophisticated, the Network Administrators role
is evolving from purely operational to one that
requires analysis and strategy to determine
optimal access to business critical applications.
What should a student aiming topursue a career in this field focus on?
A good balance of professional and soft skills
is an essenti