Which Hard Drive Should I Choose?

Yesterday I spoke about the different “i” series processors offered by Intel and compared them to various model cars from economy to performance. Today I want to talk about the different types of SATA hard drives you might come across when purchasing a new PC or portable backup drive. I don’t want to talk about brand specifics, but rather what kind of performance you can expect out of the different types of disks. I’m a bit of a Western Digital fan boy so I am going to focus on their hardware, however the information in this post would hold true for just about all hard drive manufactures.

RELATED READING:  Choosing the best Intel processor!

The Mechanical Hard Drive

Since its inception in 1956 hard drives have been mostly mechanical devices. Only until recently have SSD (solid state drives) become more main stream and I will talk more about that later. A mechanical hard drive consists of a spinning platter driven by a motor and a magnetic read / write head that can change a microscopic spec on the platter from a positive to negative charge and vice versa. The spinning disk in your computer right now is filled with 0’s and 1’s and when read back from the disk is converted to loldata. Our pictures, videos and word documents are just a sequence + or – magnetic fields. Amazing!

Depending on the type of drive and its specification will determine how fast it can read and write our files. Mechanical spinning disks are rated at rotation speed, how fast the drive can spin the platter. Faster rotation speeds can equate faster data transfer.

5400 RPM SATA

Continue reading “Which Hard Drive Should I Choose?”

Intel i3, i5, i7, i9. Choosing the best Intel Processor!

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It would seem that Intel is now the dominant force in computers when it comes to processors.  AMD fought hard to keep up throughout the years but the marketing machine that is employed by Intel has secured their future. Intel is not only great at making quality processors, but also great at convincing the world that their product is the best.

What is a processor and why should I care?

A processor also know as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is basically the brains of your computer.  Most modern CPUs are considered microprocessors, meaning they contain all the circuitry to do the job on a single chip.  I’m not going to touch too much on processor theory or history but just understand that all processors are designed to Fetch, Decode, and Execute instructions based on the demands of the programs you are using. How fast and efficiently they complete their tasks all depends on the design and speed of the particular processor.

I like computers and cars – Let’s compare!

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Weekend Project – Broken Stick Hockey Trainer

Trainer

My children love Ice Hockey! Basically in my house its all hockey all the time. When they are not on the ice for games or practice,  street hockey in front of my house will do. On many occasions we have had sticks break under the stress of vigorous play and we tend to keep broken sticks around and re purpose them for other fun projects.

Today I will show you how to make this cool stick handling trainer out of a few scrap parts you may have laying around.

Materials:

StickBroken WOODEN street hockey stick

 

2x Hockey pucks Continue reading “Weekend Project – Broken Stick Hockey Trainer”

Poor WiFi Signal At Home? A WiFi Extender Can Help!

Most homes don’t have network cables running to each room, so many of us rely on WiFi to connect our devices while at home. The problems begin when the ISP installs our router / WiFi box in a less than optimal location, and usually it can not be easily moved. This is where a simple WiFi extender can augment your existing signal and extend the reach of your home network to every corner of your house even the back yard.

How WiFi Extenders Work?

Router
Blue = Main Router Yellow = Extender

In its simplest form a WiFi extender is just a repeater. The extender is listing for a signal from your home WiFi router and repeats that signal “LOUDER” in an area of your home that is not hearing your main WiFi signal. Basically just relaying the information between your device and the main router. Think of the extender as a “man in the middle”

Where Do I Place My Extender?

extend me
2nd Floor WiFi Extender

The first step to installing a WiFi Extender is obviously setup. Some models have a touch screen to allow for a quick and easy setup. Others can be connected to your PC via USB to input settings or can be connected over WiFi. Once the setup has been completed it is important to select the proper location. You need to find Continue reading “Poor WiFi Signal At Home? A WiFi Extender Can Help!”

10 Great Father’s Day Gifts Under $100

Father’s Day is just a few days away, and if your like me spending time with my family is the best gift of all. However if you choose to pickup some gifts for Dad, maybe my list of inexpensive ideas will spark your interest.

NES Controller Clock for the Geek Dad $24.99 @ www.GeekGearStore.com

NES CLOCK
$24.99 @ www.GeekGearStore.com

This cool retro NES controller clock is perfect for the geeky dad that has everything. Laser cut 10″ x 4 ½”  out of hard wood and wall mountable. I can almost guarantee your Dad does not have one. Perfect for Father’s Day.

 

Automobile Dashboard Camera $50 and up

KDLINKS X1 Dashboard Camera
KDLINKS X1 Dashboard Camera

There are hundreds of dash cams on the market, and I believe that they are a great investment, not only for safety but for security as well. I personally own the KDLINKS X1 Camera $170 and purchased it specifically because it is designed to take extreme heat and cold. There are other lower cost cameras starting at around $50. The average price for a decent unit is around $100. Be sure to read the reviews before you make a purchase Continue reading “10 Great Father’s Day Gifts Under $100”

Protect Your Computer From Ransomware!

Ransomware! Sounds scary doesn’t it? What exactly is ransomeware and how can we protect ourselves from being a victim?

ran·som

/ˈransəm/

a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner.
That basically sums it up, Money paid for the release of a prisoner and in this case the prisoner is your data. You accidentally visit a shady website, or open an attachment that you maybe shouldn’t have and in an instant the ransomware virus begins encrypting your files.

How does it work?

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Happy Memorial Day! A Few Random Facts.

memorial banner

Thank you to all the men and women that have given the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country safe. It it wasn’t for you we probably wouldn’t be here today and enjoy life in a safe peaceful country.

A few random facts about Memorial Day you may not have know.

When did we start celebrating Memorial Day?

WarterlooIt is unclear where and when this tradition started, many different communities around the county may have began their own independent gatherings. However, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York the official birthplace of Memorial Day!. This community first celebrated their version of Memorial day on May 5th 1866. Business closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. Continue reading “Happy Memorial Day! A Few Random Facts.”

Top Secret Apple Products For 2017

Apple attempts to be super secretive regarding their new and upcoming products, however leaks do occur. Some of the leaks are true and others just hype.  This year is no different, and the “Apple Products” rumor mill has churned out quite a few. It will be fun looking back at this post in 2018 to see which products and predictions came true.

The Siri Home Assistant / Smart Speaker

Why let Amazon and Google have all the fun? The Amazon Echo was the first smart speaker to the market back in June of 2015, followed by The Google Home in November 2016. Apple has been catching up for almost 2 years. Will their version of the home assistant be superior to the competition? The rumors state that it will come with a screen, face recognition and emphasize sound quality.

RELATED READING: New Amazon Echo Show – Alexa With a Screen! Continue reading “Top Secret Apple Products For 2017”

Love retro gaming? This new NES console can play every game!

Do you love retro gaming? Maybe a big fan of the original Nintendo Entertainment System? (NES) This new console may interest you.

NesMiniBack in the fall around the holidays Nintendo released the NES Mini Classic Edition console with about 30 included games. The units sold out from Amazon in about 10 minutes. The demand was so high it crashed Amazon’s web servers.

Then to make matters worse, Nintendo announced that they have discontinued this wildly popular product!  If you wish to buy one they are still available on Amazon albeit at a premium price $160!

There’s a new player in town!  The Retron HD NES Console

NES2Maybe the crazy demand for a retro Nintendo was a good thing.  Amazon is now taking pre-orders for the Hyperkin RetroN 1 HD Gaming Console.  At only $40 this little retro console looks like a great performer. It has the capability to play every Nintendo NES game ever released, and is compatible with both NTSC and PAL games. Continue reading “Love retro gaming? This new NES console can play every game!”

Don’t have a HyperChiller? You might want to get one.

My wife bought me one of these HyperChiller contraptions for Christmas last year and I thought it was a neat idea. Who wouldn’t enjoy iced coffee without the ice watering it down. Too bad I don’t drink a drop of Coffee, however I am an iced tea drinker.  I decided to give it a go at making some fresh brewed tea and see how it performs.

How does this thing work?

Think of the HyperChiller as a double lined thermos that surrounds your beverage with two chambers of ice. The liquid is contained in a stainless steel cup that prevents the ice from diluting your drink, while allowing very fast heat transfer to cool down your liquid refreshment in a hurry.

Preparing the HyperChiller for use:

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