Computer Hardware

Mainly 5 types of cables are used in computer networking.

1. Twisted pair cable - Twisted pair cabling is a form of wiring in which two conductors (the forward and return conductors of a single circuit) are twisted together for the purposes of canceling out electromagnetic interference (EMI) from external sources; for instance, electromagnetic radiation from unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables, and crosstalk between neighboring pairs.

2. Optical fiber cable - An optical fiber cable is a cable containing one or more optical fibers. The optical fiber elements are typically individually coated with plastic layers and contained in a protective tube suitable for the environment where the cable will be deployed.

3. Coaxial cable - Coaxial lines confine the electromagnetic wave to the area inside the cable, between the center conductor and the shield. The transmission of energy in the line occurs totally through the dielectric inside the cable between the conductors. Coaxial lines can therefore be bent and twisted (subject to limits) without negative effects, and they can be strapped to conductive supports without inducing unwanted currents in them.

4. Patch cable - A patch cable is an electrical or optical cable, used to connect one electronic or optical device to another for signal routing. Devices of different types (ie: a switch connected to a computer, or switch to router) are connected with patch cords. It is a very fast connection speed. Patch cords are usually produced in many different colors so as to be easily distinguishable, and are relatively short, perhaps no longer than two metres.

5. Ethernet crossover cable - An Ethernet crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable used to connect computing devices together directly where they would normally be connected via a network switch, hub or router, such as directly connecting two personal computers via their network adapters.

Overclocking is a process by which internal components on a computer's motherboard are "tweaked" in order to improve the manufactures specifications and overall performance of the machine. Components that are overclocked are the CPU and the system bus. Information supplied by wisegeek.com/what-is-overclocking.htm explains the overclocking process. Overclocking the CPU - In general CPU chips are tested by the manufacturer to see at what speed they fail. They are then rated at a speed one step lower than this. Since the tests are quite stringent the idea is that it may be possible to push the CPU somewhat faster than its rating while maintaining stability in the system. Sometimes, when manufacturers are short on stock, they package faster GHz chips as slower ones; overclockers perceive this as a windfall. Results from overclocking the CPU alone must be balanced against the rest of the system's specifications, namely the bus speed of the motherboard, memory, et cetera. For example, a 20% increase in processor speed does not usually translate to a 20% overall improvement. The CPU might be running faster than the rest of the system, operating in a "hurry up and wait" environment. Therefore the increase might deliver a nice benchmark improvement but little real-world difference. Unsuccessful overclocking can result in an unstable system at best, and in the worst case scenario can damage the CPU. Though the latter is less common, it happens. Pushing also reduces the lifetime of the processor an indeterminable amount, as it forces the chip to work harder and hotter. Cooling fans and a good heatsink become even more important in this case. Overclocking the System Bus - Changing the motherboard bus speed successfully can create a noticeable improvement on the entire system because all components will run faster. Since the processor's effectiveness is helped by the bus speed, an improvement here can also utilize the full benefit of the CPU. However, overclocking the system bus is risky because it means pushing every component on the motherboard. Some people mistakenly believe that if a motherboard offers varying bus speed options they must be supported and therefore safe to use. The problem is that the components you install may not be tested at, or rated for the higher bus speed. Changing this setting affects the CPU (unless you adjust the clock multiplier), the chipset, memory bus, system cache, system memory, built-in IDE hard disk controllers, PCI I/O bus slots, and all peripherals. All components must be able to handle the change for the system to successfully perform without hardware failures. Manufacturer warranties do not cover problems created by overclocking. While pushing a system might start out problem-free, several months down the road when components have aged due to use and temperature changes, instability can crop up. This is more likely to occur when the overclocking was already at the brink of what the system could withstand. When problems do arise - even a program crash - it can no longer be taken for granted that the crash is due to a software glitch. Troubleshooting a system that is overclocked can be an exercise in frustration. The variables increase exponentially and the ability to rule out potentials is made more difficult as hardware might be acting in unpredictable ways.

K.Davis

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