configuring and building DIY PC 2

we need to know how to identify the appropriate specifications.
the easiest way is to test wether the desktop run perfectly with top rated games which require high end specifications... but this will not help us much in regards of learning because we need a ready-built unit or simply copy the spec from the ready-built PCs...

my real intention is to master on how to identify the specifications. what i used to do is firstly get the pricelist handouts from computer outlets which sell many peripherals partly... Lowyat Plaza is the best place. if we can't go there, just surf Lowyat.Net and download the pricelists. these pricelists normally is revised weekly...

example of peripherals pricelist

the pricelist will be used as an initial consideration on which peripheral to choose. higher price and bigger numbers can be roughly identify as better performance but it is not absolute... just for an initial consideration... put aside the affordability matters... we are now learning to master the specifications...

to be continued.......

configuring and building DIY PC

assalamualaikum guys... hehehee... how's your studies? take initiatives... and you'll live the fullest... hehehee : )....

for this post, i want to share with you guys on how to configure and build our own 'do it yourself' (DIY) desktop personal computer. i hope this post can be use as a guide for us. it will save us a lot of money and will increase our knowledge on computers the fun way comparing to just simply buy the ready-built unit especially the branded one. not wise to buy the ready-built branded unit? true. it always have a limited specifications. for example, no AGP (Accelerated Graphic Port) slot, limited slot for additional RAMs (Random Access Memory) BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) limitation, the pre-installed softwares which we actually do not need to pay much for it (and i do not suggest a pirate copy for an alternative!!!) and the most disadvantage is the knowledge itself regarding on how to configure and build our own desktop personal computer.

believe me. this is truly a fun experience on owning our desktop PC. you will automatically be a good technician (unofficially... of course... hahahahaaa) because identifying specifications, dismantling and refitting the peripherals will be a peace of cake. then take a further step to try to troubleshoot your buddies' PCs... this will further increase your knowledge... just don't take any money from them... and anything goes wrong will be nothing... heheheee... learning IT formally juast a tiny fraction of the process... the rest is your initiative... try and error... try and error... try and error... like we learn to be a good entrepreneur... remember what Sir Malik said to us? try all kind of softwares... must go to Lowyat Plaza... building our own PC will involve these advices... and these advices is the key element to be the best in IT fields...

just remember... this discussion on configuring and building our own DIY PC is just a simple selection of the peripherals... not building PC by transforming an ASTRO decoder or Microsoft Xbox into a desktop... : )... just which peripheral to pick available on the market...

to be continued.......

my view on Open Source Softwares

hum... after thinking for a while... i think that i've become emosional by my excitement to tell you guys my view on Open Source Softwares... hehehee : P

i think it is better for me to share my view by telling stories with my past experience... i don't want to be too bias about this matter or being incite with you guys... ngeee...

and if only i am capable with programming.... things will be far better and computing experience will be much more fun... hehe

Open Source Softwares

i really wanted to share with you guys about my view of Open Source Softwares in the perspective as a Muslim... what it has to do with the current position of Ummah... tearing down capitalism... what it offers for us as a student... what benefit we get to develop towards vision 2020... economically and much more to share... i do not have much time now.... will be updated soon... reforge your mindset of computing... towards better, fair humanbeings : )...

the long 1 semester break... :P

a lot of time for me to do something which in turn will greatly advance my knowledge for my career...

what am I going to do...? beside watching the RAT 31 SL/E air surveillance radar turning on top of Bukit Lunchu...?

firstly... i will continue my initiative to make my own .pdf handbooks and powerpoint presentations (using OpenOffice.org of course... ngeee :P) on the radar system. the technical library will be my second office.

after duty hours, i will continue my initiative to download as many ebooks, documents and anything that helps me improve my knowledge as possible. i have downloaded much of them before but my laptop were stolen a week before i came to UiTM Johor to register. concern about owning personal computer be it desktop or laptop, three days later i bought a refurbished laptop for rm500. just an obsolete hardware technology but enough for me to learn much... hehehee... IBM Thinkpad T20 with Intel Pentium III 700MHz, 2x 128MHz PC 100 SDRAM, 2 minutes battery, 12GB of stock hard disk unit and a depleted CMOS battery which will require me to reconfigure the BIOS if i did not switch on the laptop for more than two days... actually i am not sure the BIOS reconfiguration is required due to the CMOS battery is depleted or it has something to do with the BIOS millennium compatibility. heheheheee.... as i remember when i was in form four secondary school which is 10 years before, computer manufacturers claimed that their products are millennium compatible...

the laptop does not built with a wireless card. i had to use a PCMCIA wireless card which will clearly seen hang out from the slot...

this is the image of IBM T20 Thinkpad... the PCMCIA wireless card hanging out from the Type II PCMCIA (CardBus) slot...

the most frustration on the laptop was the graphic performance... i cannot enjoy the smooth glossy desktop offered with Linux Kubuntu anymore which is far more fascinating than Windows Vista be it Ultimate version... really... and the Kubuntu i used to enjoy was configured only with a moderate setup with Compiz... i did not have the opportunity to try more advance setup.

another disadvantage was the only one of USB slot. i had to use a USB hub but i think this is not a big problem since the slot is USB 2.0 type...

it took me three hours just to test the laptop before i bought. everything was in good condition except the battery which i considered acceptable with the price offered. but when i brought back, the stock hard disk start to annoy me. i could not load the Linux Kubuntu i have installed. i brought it back to the store but everything working as per normal. the hard disk malfunctioned again when i brought it back... i decided to take it out and i found that something is broken inside when i shake the hard disk unit. i can not open the hard disk case since i do not have the special watchmaker...

i faced one after another problems with the laptop but it all gave me many precious experience of computing. i learned back how to format and install older version of Microsoft Windows OS which require us to know the command needed... : ).....

buying another laptop to replace the stolen unit made me think for quite some time... learning from my past experience... i am kind of one who will buy something when i think that it is needed and i will firstly get to know what the spec is and the performance which fit my need... there is nothing to do with elegance, extravagant or any such things... i love to challenge myself with this method with anything i want to buy... my mom said i do not have to keep my money... just simply buy a new unit with acceptably high performance. the issue is i do not need that kind of laptop but a desktop. i even use only an old cracked case of handphone because it suite my need... heheheee... furthermore... from my past experience high-end laptop will drag me to an unprofitable and ''lagha" activities like gaming which will endanger my "ibadah" activities... hehehe....

anyone tried the P1 Wimax Broadband service? not yet? never heard of? catch it up quickly... the performance is really pleased... high stable speed... i do not care the huge size of the modem... the performance is really really intimidating.... if there is coverage at your place, get it quick... i'm using my buddy's unit right now...like it is my own... ngeeheehee... i wanted to own one but i am going back to UiTM Johor this July. the coverage is not there yet and i think that this will be the case until next few years... : (...

long vacation...

one week mid-term holiday?... i got for the rest of the semester... lol...