Monday, August 18, 2008

It Starts With A Motherboard

It all starts with a motherboard when talking about computers. Simply put, this is a vital organ for all computers much the way our organs are in our own bodies. Technically, it is a primary printed circuit board that can be found in a complex electronic system. A better example of a complex electronic system known to pretty much everyone is the computer.

The motherboard has several other names, proving Shakespeare's theory that a rose by any other name would indeed smell as sweet. Known as a main board, baseboard, system board, planar board, logic board, and mobo, this is one pc supply that can't be skipped when building your own computer. It also means that a memory lapse may not mean that you can't get the part. I've seen techs recognize even the most bumbled explanations of what is wanted because of the vital nature of this component of computers.

The simplest of motherboards include sockets, slots, chipset, non-volatile memory chips, clock generator, and slots for expansion cards, power connectors, and circuits. Each of these is a necessary component that works together in tandem to be the brains of your computer. Sockets are the holders of the microprocessors as this is where they are installed. Slots hold the computers main memory while chipsets form an interface between the computer's busses and the main memory. Non-volatile memory stores the firmware for the computer and the BIOS, which is necessary to boot the computer. The clock generator is responsible for the system clock signal and synchronization capabilities while slot expansions interface through the busses. The power connectors receive the electrical power that makes all of the motherboard come alive.

As you can see, this one piece of equipment is vital to building a computer. No computer can operate without one. Because of the integral role of the motherboard, it is not surprising that the motherboard should be carefully chosen. Not all motherboards are created equal. Not all motherboards will work for all operating systems. These are unique pieces of equipment that your computer needs to operate and they need compatible components to work with them. If you build a motherboard for XP, for example, and you load Vista, you will probably have a problem that shows up as a silent computer regardless of your sound card choice. You would likewise see difficulties if you load a computer whose motherboard is compatible with Mac Leopard system with Linux or Windows. It simply won't work to your advantage.

When you begin shopping around for motherboards, it is important to know a little about what you want from the computer you are building as well as the operating system you plan to install on it. Upon investigating further, you should tell your sales representative about your must haves for the motherboard since this is the center of activity for your computer. This will help them help you get the perfect motherboard for your dream computer and at a cost that fits into the total budget that you have set for your project.

By: Victor Epand

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for computer memory, PC supplies, and computer games. When shopping, we recommend the best online stores for PC supplies,choosing a Motherboard, computer memory, RAM, and used computer games.

Symantec Norton Antibot The Latest In Norton Computer Protection Software

It seems like every other month a new “program” comes along to make our lives that much easier. For example, first we could bookmark favorites, and then RSS feed them, and then came widgets and now “bots” which are robots that do a lot of our computer work for us in the background. Examples of friendly bots are weather bots, game playing bots, instant messaging and my favorites are those on AOL Instant Messenger which do all kinds of functions for me like shop, find movie times and even give updates on the Wall Street Journal.

Unfortunately not all bots were created “equal.” Some are friendly and some are not. The ones that are not friendly can be a form of malware that allows control of your computer to be released, providing hackers with the opportunity to access your information and spread harmful bots to others. This type of computer virus can then be used to spread spam and commit various types of identity theft and other online fraud.

So with new threats to our computers and information, new methods of protection are required. One of the oldest and most well known software protection designers has recently released a new protection program, Symantec Norton AntiBot. This is a software product designed to prevent the hijacking of one’s personal computer by bots and uses the bots on design programs against them, to located and destroy them.

Many people already employ some form of protection on their personal computer, such as increasing the protection level from internet information to “high.” But these cannot detect some of the most recent bot programs and may not be the most efficient means of information protection, especially with the Internet being used more and more frequently for online shopping, ticket purchases, travel and other “high risk” activities.

A more effective method of detecting and eliminating threats caused by bots is to install software designed specifically to detect, destroy and prevent bots from having access to your computer. With Symantec Norton AntiBot software, protection against bots is enhanced several times and the threat of bot attack is greatly diminished. It’s program protects against bots by blocking bots from entering your computer through downloads and e-mail attachments (two of the common ways bots enter a personal computer), checking for any unusual behavior on your personal computer and eliminating it, and detecting malicious bot software at all levels; keeping your personal, financial and credit card information safe and stopping identify theft before it can occur.

Because bots operate in the background and are not detectable by antivirus or antispyware programs, many computer users are completely unaware that their personal computer has become infected. Many problems caused by bots go undetected until it is too late. Warning signs that your computer may have been accessed include: slowness of computer speed and unusual or irrelevant error messages. However, many times com these symptoms are sporadic and computer users will take little notice. Many people will continue to use their personal computer, unaware that bots have hijacked their personal computer and are slowly at work; looking for credit card numbers, passwords, and logon information which can be used for identity theft and in committing other types of online crime. This program scans your personal computer on a continuous basis, closing the gaps that could allow bots to infect your personal computer and better ensuring that bots do not invade and gain control.

The use of Symantec Norton AntiBot to determine what a harmful or useful bot and allows you to continue using those bots you love and have come to depend on for information and services. It can be used in addition to several other antivirus and antispyware programs. Its compatibility is not limited to only Norton products.

The cost of this software is $29.95 for one year of service. It was awarded PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award (2007) and underwent rigorous testing which included using AntiBot on computers with existing threats as well as allowing threats to try to access the computer after installation.

With the growing threat of identity theft and credit card fraud Symantec Norton AntiBot offers an additional level of protection needed to combat the threat of bots and prevent them from turning one’s personal computer into a robotic that turns into an instrument of destruction to both your personal and financial well-being.


About The Author
Lisa Carey is a contributing author for http://www.IdentityTheftSecrets.com. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit, as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at http://www.IdentityTheftSecrets.com