Thursday, November 12, 2009
Memory/RAM Buying Guide
The RAM is a major key to a computer's performance. The speed of your computer depends on how much RAM it has to run applications. Increasing the memory of your computer is a great way to boast performance with just a few bucks. So, what exactly is computer memory/RAM? What should a computer user look for while shopping for RAM?
The memory of the computer is the RAM (Read Access Memory). The RAM is different from the hard drive (storage or disk space) or flash memory. The RAM helps determine the speed of a computer. When you save a file on your system, it gets permanently stored in the hard drive. This data in the hard drive can't be retrieved at the click of a second without a good RAM size. As a comparison, the RAM is like the machine workshop and the hard drive is like the store. Anything in your workshop is easily accessible. However, if you need something from the store, it will take some time for you to drive over and back. Many common programs such as Word and your browser use RAM to run quicker.
Simply put, the RAM offers temporary storage for data. The hard drive stores information in a fast spinning splatter. To retrieve information, the head of the hard drive reads it off the splatter. Temporary data is stored in the computer memory in the form of electrical signals. The information stored in the computer memory is easy and quick to access and is erased when you shut down your computer.
A larger RAM size will make your system work faster. Browser taps, Microsoft Word, Notepad, and other computer software programs occupy considerable amount of memory space. You may want to update your computer memory if it has a very low RAM. With a small memory size, your computer will definitely struggle to load a certain programs.
Considerations
Size
The size of your memory is probably the most important aspect of the RAM. Simply put, the bigger the better. Your motherboard will have limitations though, so make sure you don't go over these limits. I always recommend 2 GB for people buying new computers. If your motherboard can handle it, this is a good memory size to shoot for. Don't be discouraged if you can't afford this though. Any increase over your current amount of RAM will help.
Speed
The speed of your memory will be determined by your motherboard. However, many boards support multiple speeds of memory. It is suggested that you get the fastest speed that your motherboard can handle.
Latency
Latency is the time delay only after which the data can be accessed in the RAM. So the less, the better. However, their is a big price increase as latency decreases.
A computer RAM is usually located next to the CPU on the motherboard. It is important to shop for the RAM that will fit well in your motherboard. In addition, not all RAM can work well with your computer. A visit to a good memory manufacturers' website, like Kingston.com, can help you dictate the right memory for your system. Write down the list of recommended memory types for your system and search online for a good bargain. I always recommend the crucial memory tool to help find the correct memory for your system. Installing the RAM is very easy if you can handle a screwdriver with at least little technical 'dexterity.'
Buying a Motherboard
Older generations of motherboards don't usually support modern CPUs. This is due to compatibility problems such as voltage difference, chip features, and BIOS support. For multiple graphic cards, you must buy a board with chipsets that support them. In fact, you have to choose a board that will work with the chipset you need. To do this, check the motherboard features lists. The chipset determines board speed and memory speed as well as expansion capabilities.
RAM SLOTS
To achieve the very best of performance look for motherboards that support DDR3 memory. Depending on the motherboard, you'll typically see two to four memory slots. Pick a motherboard that has enough slots to accommodate everything you need. You also need to make sure that the speed of your memory matches up with the speed up your motherboard. For example, if your motherboard requires DDR3 PC3 8500, makes sure you buy RAM that is DDR3 PC3 8500. Lastly, each memory slot will have a maximum size. Make sure that you don't go over this maximum size for the memory slot.
FORM FACTOR
The form factor is the standard for dimensions and layout. Form factor ensures proper positioning of expansion holes, ports, and mounting holes. To put shortly, buy the form factor that supports your case. Most motherboards are in the ATX form factor. For a smaller case, use a smaller MicroATX board.
CPU SOCKET
This is the most important consideration you have to make. You must make sure the motherboard you buy supports the family of processor you want. For instance, AM2 socket uses 940 pins and it rides well with DDR2 SDRAM. Almost all recently manufactured boards for Intel CPUs use LGA775 sockets. For AMD, use AM2+. This provides you with added advantage for upgrade as well.
PCI SLOTS
Look for ATX boards that provide slots for expansion. Check to see that your expansion card is compatible with the slots types. PCI slots are usually for Ethernet cards and sound cards. For higher bandwidth cards such as PCIe graphic cards, you need PCIe x16 slots. A PCIe x1 slot is for an Ethernet card.
STORAGE
SATA drives are the storage standard right now. Before you buy, make sure your board supports SATA drives. Most modern motherboards give SATA and IDE connections.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
CPU Buying Guide
The CPU is the powerhouse of a computer. The CPU interprets data and writes the data for storage or for display on your screen. The CPU consists of millions of transistors wrapped in silicon. Upgrading your computer is a relatively simple task. Once you understand the terminologies, you're equipped to take the journey on your own. However, first-timers, often a time; can make potentially risky pick. This buying guide is aimed to assist people of all computer experience make the right decision.
Buying a processor based on what you intend to do with your computer can save you some money. For example, a computer for simple tasks like email and surfing doesn't necessarily need multicore processors or the fastest clock speeds. If you are just using your computer for this, I would recommend a middle of the line dual-core chip. Multicore processors are designed for gaming, video or audio editing, and general multitasking. If you do a lot of gaming, video editing, etc, a faster dual-core or quad-core processor is for you.
Quad-Core processors are the latest processor in the market. These processors guarantee superb performance. You can now order computers with quad-core processors from any major computer manufacturer or you can do it yourself. Almost all modern computers come with dual core processors. Single Core processors are found in old computers and their performance is not as good compared to modern multi-core chips.
Intel and AMD are two of the world's major CPU/Processor manufacturers. Intel is the industry household name and has been struggling to maintain market dominance amidst strong rivalry from AMD (Advanced Micro Devices). Intel enjoys 70% of market dominance and many IT professionals believe it has a better technology.
To buy a processor, you need to know the amount of Clock Speed, System Bus Speed, L2 Cache, and Processor Core that would serve your purpose. You may also consider a processor with 64-bit support. As I said earlier, this guide acquaints you with almost all the jargons to help you make the right decision before you set out for a new CPU. After going through this article, it is recommended that you visit AMD or Intel Website for the latest midrange and high-end processors.
Note: Socket Type and Platform
The CPU you buy must have a socket that matches the motherboard, for example, LGA775 Processors for LGA775 board. In addition, check to see if your motherboard supports the CPU model, you intend to buy. This will be found in your motherboard manual. If you can't find this, it most likely can be found online. Here are some brief descriptions of CPU specifications.
1. Architecture
The majority of software runs fine with a 32-bit processor. Architecture refers to which processor type --32-bit or 64-bit core-- that would properly run your software. Depending on your project, you may opt for a single core, dual, or quad core processor. A Quad Core processor is the number one CPU right now but it also the most expensive in general.
2. Clock Speed or Operating Frequency
The speed of the processor is the clock speed and it's measured in hertz. The clock speed is simply how many times per second the processor performs basic functions such as addition of two numbers. Due to technological innovations, processors now have clock speed of billions of cycles per second (GHz). The clockspeed determines the performance of the CPU. As you know, a 3.5Hz is faster than a 3.4 HZ.
3. Hyperthreading
Hyperthreading also known as multi-threading makes one chip to act as multiple processors. With hyperthreading, the different parts of the CPU perform different tasks simultaneously.
4. SocketSpeed
Socket speed is a name or numbers that refers to the location on the motherboard that the CPU fits in.
5. Front-Side Bus
FSB is the front-side bus. The FSB states the fastest type of memory for your system. FSB determines the speed transmitted between the memory and the processor. A faster FSB does speed up RAM operations and overall system performance.
6. L2 Cache
You can increase performance and responsiveness by opting for higher Cache capacity. Large capacity like 2MB allows recently accessed data to be instantly available to the processor.
Hopefully now you have all the information you need to make an informed decision on purchasing a new CPU.
Buying a processor based on what you intend to do with your computer can save you some money. For example, a computer for simple tasks like email and surfing doesn't necessarily need multicore processors or the fastest clock speeds. If you are just using your computer for this, I would recommend a middle of the line dual-core chip. Multicore processors are designed for gaming, video or audio editing, and general multitasking. If you do a lot of gaming, video editing, etc, a faster dual-core or quad-core processor is for you.
Quad-Core processors are the latest processor in the market. These processors guarantee superb performance. You can now order computers with quad-core processors from any major computer manufacturer or you can do it yourself. Almost all modern computers come with dual core processors. Single Core processors are found in old computers and their performance is not as good compared to modern multi-core chips.
Intel and AMD are two of the world's major CPU/Processor manufacturers. Intel is the industry household name and has been struggling to maintain market dominance amidst strong rivalry from AMD (Advanced Micro Devices). Intel enjoys 70% of market dominance and many IT professionals believe it has a better technology.
To buy a processor, you need to know the amount of Clock Speed, System Bus Speed, L2 Cache, and Processor Core that would serve your purpose. You may also consider a processor with 64-bit support. As I said earlier, this guide acquaints you with almost all the jargons to help you make the right decision before you set out for a new CPU. After going through this article, it is recommended that you visit AMD or Intel Website for the latest midrange and high-end processors.
Note: Socket Type and Platform
The CPU you buy must have a socket that matches the motherboard, for example, LGA775 Processors for LGA775 board. In addition, check to see if your motherboard supports the CPU model, you intend to buy. This will be found in your motherboard manual. If you can't find this, it most likely can be found online. Here are some brief descriptions of CPU specifications.
1. Architecture
The majority of software runs fine with a 32-bit processor. Architecture refers to which processor type --32-bit or 64-bit core-- that would properly run your software. Depending on your project, you may opt for a single core, dual, or quad core processor. A Quad Core processor is the number one CPU right now but it also the most expensive in general.
2. Clock Speed or Operating Frequency
The speed of the processor is the clock speed and it's measured in hertz. The clock speed is simply how many times per second the processor performs basic functions such as addition of two numbers. Due to technological innovations, processors now have clock speed of billions of cycles per second (GHz). The clockspeed determines the performance of the CPU. As you know, a 3.5Hz is faster than a 3.4 HZ.
3. Hyperthreading
Hyperthreading also known as multi-threading makes one chip to act as multiple processors. With hyperthreading, the different parts of the CPU perform different tasks simultaneously.
4. SocketSpeed
Socket speed is a name or numbers that refers to the location on the motherboard that the CPU fits in.
5. Front-Side Bus
FSB is the front-side bus. The FSB states the fastest type of memory for your system. FSB determines the speed transmitted between the memory and the processor. A faster FSB does speed up RAM operations and overall system performance.
6. L2 Cache
You can increase performance and responsiveness by opting for higher Cache capacity. Large capacity like 2MB allows recently accessed data to be instantly available to the processor.
Hopefully now you have all the information you need to make an informed decision on purchasing a new CPU.
Types of Internet Connections
There are a wide ranges of internet connections. Some are easily available while others are difficult to come by. Your choice of internet connection depends on your location and budget. However, the faster the internet connection you are using, the better for your work. The most common forms of internet connections are the DSL, Analogue (dial-up), Satellite and Cable. Other types of internet connectivity exists, from the very slow to the high-speed internet connections.
Analogue (56kbs)
The Analogue connection, also known as dial-up access, is a very slow and inexpensive type of internet connection. A dialup connection uses a modem, phone line and ISP. With an analogue connection, a subscriber connects to the internet by dialling up a phone number gotten from an ISP. The modem converts Incoming data from analogue to digital and the reverse. The dial up access provides poor internet quality.
Cable (512Kbs to 20 Mbps)
A Cable modem is a type of internet connection that allows connection via cable TV lines. The Cable internet connection uses TV channels for data transmission. Cable internet provides fast internet access. Cable TV uses coaxial cable, which support higher bandwidth than telephone lines do.
It is important to make it clear that broadband is a general name for cable, satellite and DSL types of internet connections. Broadband internet connections are highly reliable and fast. Like other types of internet connections, they require modems to connect to the internet.
Internet over Satellite (average 500Kbps)
Satellite connection provides uninterrupted internet connectivity. Internet over Satellite uses a communication satellite that is on a stationary position in orbit. Due to the huge distance the data has to be transmitted, the speed of satellite is a bit lower than Broadband types of internet connections.
Tier Carrier
These types of internet connections are used by Internet Service Providers (ISP) to connect to the internet backbone. The main difference between T-1,T-2,T-4 and T-3 internet connections are the number of individual channels. Each individual channel, that can carry both data and voice traffic, has a band width close to 64Kbps. A T-1 line consists of 26 individual channels whereas T-3 has 672 individual channels. Therefore, if you do the mathematics for T-3 lines, we are talking about 43Mbps or more. T-5 is up to 400Mbps.
DSL (128Kbps to 8Mbps)
DSL, which also refers to xDSL, uses 2-wire copper telephone lines and it does not require dialling in to an ISP. In fact, DSL is an "always on" internet connection. There are different categories of DSL and they are SDSL, VDSL and ADSL.
Optical Cable (1Gbps+)
Fiber-optic is the most common internet connection. It has the highest data rates compared to other types of internet connections after internet2. It is easy to maintain. There are three types of fiber-optic internet connections and they are the plastic optical fiber, single mode, and multimode.
Internet2 (100Gbps)
Internet2 provides the highest internet speed connectivity. It was developed by a networking consortium to meet the high-speed internet demand for research and education work. It has a speed of 100Gbps. The use of internet2 is not common.
Analogue (56kbs)
The Analogue connection, also known as dial-up access, is a very slow and inexpensive type of internet connection. A dialup connection uses a modem, phone line and ISP. With an analogue connection, a subscriber connects to the internet by dialling up a phone number gotten from an ISP. The modem converts Incoming data from analogue to digital and the reverse. The dial up access provides poor internet quality.
Cable (512Kbs to 20 Mbps)
A Cable modem is a type of internet connection that allows connection via cable TV lines. The Cable internet connection uses TV channels for data transmission. Cable internet provides fast internet access. Cable TV uses coaxial cable, which support higher bandwidth than telephone lines do.
It is important to make it clear that broadband is a general name for cable, satellite and DSL types of internet connections. Broadband internet connections are highly reliable and fast. Like other types of internet connections, they require modems to connect to the internet.
Internet over Satellite (average 500Kbps)
Satellite connection provides uninterrupted internet connectivity. Internet over Satellite uses a communication satellite that is on a stationary position in orbit. Due to the huge distance the data has to be transmitted, the speed of satellite is a bit lower than Broadband types of internet connections.
Tier Carrier
These types of internet connections are used by Internet Service Providers (ISP) to connect to the internet backbone. The main difference between T-1,T-2,T-4 and T-3 internet connections are the number of individual channels. Each individual channel, that can carry both data and voice traffic, has a band width close to 64Kbps. A T-1 line consists of 26 individual channels whereas T-3 has 672 individual channels. Therefore, if you do the mathematics for T-3 lines, we are talking about 43Mbps or more. T-5 is up to 400Mbps.
DSL (128Kbps to 8Mbps)
DSL, which also refers to xDSL, uses 2-wire copper telephone lines and it does not require dialling in to an ISP. In fact, DSL is an "always on" internet connection. There are different categories of DSL and they are SDSL, VDSL and ADSL.
Optical Cable (1Gbps+)
Fiber-optic is the most common internet connection. It has the highest data rates compared to other types of internet connections after internet2. It is easy to maintain. There are three types of fiber-optic internet connections and they are the plastic optical fiber, single mode, and multimode.
Internet2 (100Gbps)
Internet2 provides the highest internet speed connectivity. It was developed by a networking consortium to meet the high-speed internet demand for research and education work. It has a speed of 100Gbps. The use of internet2 is not common.
Setup Dial-Up for Vista
Dial up internet connection is a type of internet connection that requires a standard phone line. To set up a dial up internet connection, often times, one requires a software driver and a telephone, which in this case, is your modem. In some instances, the Windows operating system's network utility is the software that controls the modem.
If there is a software driver in the kit that comes along with your phone, then the first thing is to get it installed. Don't connect your modem until you've finished installing your software driver. Disable your antivirus and firewalls until installation is complete before you enable them again. DO NOT SURF THE NET WITHOUT YOUR ANTIVIRUS AND FIREFOX ENABLED.
Follow these steps to setup a dial up internet connection in Vista:
1. Click on the start menu
2. Click on Network and Internet
3. Click on connections
4. Click on setup
5. The username is usually a combination of the phone number and the URL of your ISP as an email address. Except otherwise stated by your service provider, the password is usually your phone number. Remember to complete this stage by including #777 as shown.
6. Now you've set up your dial up connection. You can now start surfing the internet. There is one more thing though: It'd be nice if you've a short cut of this newly created network connection on your desktop. To do this, click on the start menu-> control panel-> network and sharing center-> click on 'manage network connections' at the right-hand side-> right-click on the newly created network connection and select 'create shortcut option.' Click Ok when a window pops up seeking your permission to create the shortcut on PC desktop. That's it, you've just setup a dial up connection for windows vista!
If there is a software driver in the kit that comes along with your phone, then the first thing is to get it installed. Don't connect your modem until you've finished installing your software driver. Disable your antivirus and firewalls until installation is complete before you enable them again. DO NOT SURF THE NET WITHOUT YOUR ANTIVIRUS AND FIREFOX ENABLED.
Follow these steps to setup a dial up internet connection in Vista:
1. Click on the start menu
2. Click on Network and Internet
3. Click on connections
4. Click on setup
5. The username is usually a combination of the phone number and the URL of your ISP as an email address. Except otherwise stated by your service provider, the password is usually your phone number. Remember to complete this stage by including #777 as shown.
6. Now you've set up your dial up connection. You can now start surfing the internet. There is one more thing though: It'd be nice if you've a short cut of this newly created network connection on your desktop. To do this, click on the start menu-> control panel-> network and sharing center-> click on 'manage network connections' at the right-hand side-> right-click on the newly created network connection and select 'create shortcut option.' Click Ok when a window pops up seeking your permission to create the shortcut on PC desktop. That's it, you've just setup a dial up connection for windows vista!
Safe Web Surfing Tips
One of the most common places to get a virus or spyware is from web browsing. There are many websites that are waiting for you to make a mistake so they can install some type of virus or malware on your system. Due to this, it is important to use some caution when surfing the web. The following guide has some tips to help you avoid getting malware from your web surfing.
Browswer Choice
Internet explorer in the past has had security issues which has made firefox a better choice when it comes to web browsing security. However, Microsoft has put a great deal of effort into improving internet explorer security. Due to this, I think either IE or Firefox are good choices when it comes to choosing a browser. No matter what browser you choose to use, make sure download and install any recommended updates. A lot of times these updates may fix a found security problem.
Anti-Virus Guard and Firewall
I would recommend having a good anti-virus program installed that has a Virus guard with it. Also, make sure you have this feature of your virus program on. To go along with this, if you are running Windows, make sure you have the firewall on as well. The combination of good antivirus protection and a firewall can help prevent a lot of problems.
Downloads
A common place to get a virus is from a bad download. I would recommend only downloading files from known and trusted websites. I have seen a lot of people get a virus trying to download music from an untrusted website or torrent.
Spotting a Bad Website
Spotting a bad website can be tough to do. I have to admit that I have stumbled upon many bad websites in my time. However, what you do after you get to the untrusted website can save you from getting a virus. If you find a website that is horribly designed, pop-ups tons of windows, and maybe even causes your anti-virus program to pop-up an alert it is best to get away from that website. Make sure you close any popups. You should also follow the recommended action of your virus to delete/quarentine any viruses/spyware.
Installing Windows Updates
If you are a Windows user, make sure you download and install any Windows updates that are recommended for your computer. Sometimes these updates close security holes that were found in Windows.
Browswer Choice
Internet explorer in the past has had security issues which has made firefox a better choice when it comes to web browsing security. However, Microsoft has put a great deal of effort into improving internet explorer security. Due to this, I think either IE or Firefox are good choices when it comes to choosing a browser. No matter what browser you choose to use, make sure download and install any recommended updates. A lot of times these updates may fix a found security problem.
Anti-Virus Guard and Firewall
I would recommend having a good anti-virus program installed that has a Virus guard with it. Also, make sure you have this feature of your virus program on. To go along with this, if you are running Windows, make sure you have the firewall on as well. The combination of good antivirus protection and a firewall can help prevent a lot of problems.
Downloads
A common place to get a virus is from a bad download. I would recommend only downloading files from known and trusted websites. I have seen a lot of people get a virus trying to download music from an untrusted website or torrent.
Spotting a Bad Website
Spotting a bad website can be tough to do. I have to admit that I have stumbled upon many bad websites in my time. However, what you do after you get to the untrusted website can save you from getting a virus. If you find a website that is horribly designed, pop-ups tons of windows, and maybe even causes your anti-virus program to pop-up an alert it is best to get away from that website. Make sure you close any popups. You should also follow the recommended action of your virus to delete/quarentine any viruses/spyware.
Installing Windows Updates
If you are a Windows user, make sure you download and install any Windows updates that are recommended for your computer. Sometimes these updates close security holes that were found in Windows.
How To Find An IP Address
Nowadays, we live in the world of the internet and rarely does a single day pass by in which we don't log onto the net. However, have you ever thought of how we are able to connect to a person sitting nearly on the other side of the globe? In the case of the internet, the network on which all the systems reside is called WWW and it's too complicated for a non-technical person like us to comprehend it fully. So, I will just state briefly how different computers talk to each other on this world wide web or any other smaller network like you use at your work place or in your home.
First off all, you should know that whenever a system connects to a network, it must identify itself uniquely on the network so that there is no conflict in identification. In order to do so, under Internet Protocol (IP), a unique address is provided to each system on a network. This Internet Protocol along with Transfer Control Protocol is generally referred as TCP/IP. There are different versions of IP like – Ipv4 or IPv6. The most commonly used one is IPv4. This protocol assigns a 4 byte IP Address to a system. Normally, an IP Address is nothing but a combination of 4 sets of integers in the range of 0 to 255 and joined together by the ".". For example 192.168.1.1 is a valid IP address. In case of IPv6, 16 bytes are used for this IP Address. So, whenever you connect to a network, your system will be assigned an IP Address like this. There are different ways you can connect to a network or to the Internet. You may connect to your ISP directly or you may do the same through a Router. In both ways, your system will be assigned an IP Address. Now there are two different types of IP Addresses – Static IP Address and Dynamic IP Address. In case of Static IP Address, your system is assigned a unique IP Address which does not change along with the time. Whenever your system gets a dynamic IP Address, however, your system's IP Address will change frequently. To get a unique IP Address each time you connect to a network or restart your router, normally you connect to a DHCP server and the server assigns you one IP Address from the pool of IP Addresses. In this case you don't know which IP Address your system is assigned when you log onto your system.
There are different ways to identify your system's IP Address. Likewise, you can also find out the IP Address of other systems on your network or Internet. This guide will show how to find out the IP Address of your own local system on a network and also the IP address of any website you visit.
To find out the IP address of a local system, there are different ways. We will discuss them one by one for a Windows XP system.
Method 1
First of all, open your "Start" menu and hit on "Run" or just hold on the "Windows" key on your keyboard and press "r". The following window will open up. Type "command" or "cmd" in the field provided. Click on "Ok".
The following black window will open up.
In this command window, type "ipconfig" and hit enter. And you will see the following output,
In the output, you can see the IP Address of my system is 172.16.21.98. Now, this is the IP Address my system is assigned on the LAN. But the IP Address provided by my ISP or Internet Service Provider is something different. We will also see how to find out that IP Address.
If you want detailed information of how your system is connecting to Internet or LAN, you should go for the following command, "ipconfig/all". See the next screenshot,
You will see new information regarding your network here, but the most important among them all is the MAC Address under the column of "Physical Address". It is the unique address of your network adapter or card. Take a note of it.
Method 2
Now we will see a different way to find out system's IP Address.
On a Windows XP System, click on "Start" Menu and go for "Control Panel". The following window will open up, click on "Network and Internet Connections" under "Pick a category".
The following window will open. Click on "Network Connections" under "pick a Control Icon". See below,
On the next window, you will see an icon named "Local Area Connection", double click on it and the following window will pop up,
On the top, you will see a tab "Support", click on it. Under this tab there is a button "Details", click on it,
On the next window, you will see a box with all the details of your network, it will be the same as the output of "ipconfig" command.
Now, you have seen the ways you can identify your system's IP Address assigned by your Router or ISP. You may also want to know the IP Address of other systems or you may want to know the IP Addresses of some websites. As we already discussed, each system or server on any network will be assigned a unique IP Address, the same goes for a website also. So, we will briefly discuss the best way to find out the IP Address of a website.
First open your command prompt, as stated earlier and type the following command in that black box, hit enter. Output is shown in the next screenshot,
Command – ping www.google.co.in
You can see in the first line of the output, "Pinging www.google.co.in [74.125.45.99]...". The IP address of this website is 74.125.45.99. So, before pinging the website, your system first resolves the website's name with DNS and gets the IP Address of the website. After it resolves the IP, it starts pinging the server with data packets.
Now you know how to find your computer's IP address along with how to find the IP address of a website.
First off all, you should know that whenever a system connects to a network, it must identify itself uniquely on the network so that there is no conflict in identification. In order to do so, under Internet Protocol (IP), a unique address is provided to each system on a network. This Internet Protocol along with Transfer Control Protocol is generally referred as TCP/IP. There are different versions of IP like – Ipv4 or IPv6. The most commonly used one is IPv4. This protocol assigns a 4 byte IP Address to a system. Normally, an IP Address is nothing but a combination of 4 sets of integers in the range of 0 to 255 and joined together by the ".". For example 192.168.1.1 is a valid IP address. In case of IPv6, 16 bytes are used for this IP Address. So, whenever you connect to a network, your system will be assigned an IP Address like this. There are different ways you can connect to a network or to the Internet. You may connect to your ISP directly or you may do the same through a Router. In both ways, your system will be assigned an IP Address. Now there are two different types of IP Addresses – Static IP Address and Dynamic IP Address. In case of Static IP Address, your system is assigned a unique IP Address which does not change along with the time. Whenever your system gets a dynamic IP Address, however, your system's IP Address will change frequently. To get a unique IP Address each time you connect to a network or restart your router, normally you connect to a DHCP server and the server assigns you one IP Address from the pool of IP Addresses. In this case you don't know which IP Address your system is assigned when you log onto your system.
There are different ways to identify your system's IP Address. Likewise, you can also find out the IP Address of other systems on your network or Internet. This guide will show how to find out the IP Address of your own local system on a network and also the IP address of any website you visit.
To find out the IP address of a local system, there are different ways. We will discuss them one by one for a Windows XP system.
Method 1
First of all, open your "Start" menu and hit on "Run" or just hold on the "Windows" key on your keyboard and press "r". The following window will open up. Type "command" or "cmd" in the field provided. Click on "Ok".
The following black window will open up.
In this command window, type "ipconfig" and hit enter. And you will see the following output,
In the output, you can see the IP Address of my system is 172.16.21.98. Now, this is the IP Address my system is assigned on the LAN. But the IP Address provided by my ISP or Internet Service Provider is something different. We will also see how to find out that IP Address.
If you want detailed information of how your system is connecting to Internet or LAN, you should go for the following command, "ipconfig/all". See the next screenshot,
You will see new information regarding your network here, but the most important among them all is the MAC Address under the column of "Physical Address". It is the unique address of your network adapter or card. Take a note of it.
Method 2
Now we will see a different way to find out system's IP Address.
On a Windows XP System, click on "Start" Menu and go for "Control Panel". The following window will open up, click on "Network and Internet Connections" under "Pick a category".
The following window will open. Click on "Network Connections" under "pick a Control Icon". See below,
On the next window, you will see an icon named "Local Area Connection", double click on it and the following window will pop up,
On the top, you will see a tab "Support", click on it. Under this tab there is a button "Details", click on it,
On the next window, you will see a box with all the details of your network, it will be the same as the output of "ipconfig" command.
Now, you have seen the ways you can identify your system's IP Address assigned by your Router or ISP. You may also want to know the IP Address of other systems or you may want to know the IP Addresses of some websites. As we already discussed, each system or server on any network will be assigned a unique IP Address, the same goes for a website also. So, we will briefly discuss the best way to find out the IP Address of a website.
First open your command prompt, as stated earlier and type the following command in that black box, hit enter. Output is shown in the next screenshot,
Command – ping www.google.co.in
You can see in the first line of the output, "Pinging www.google.co.in [74.125.45.99]...". The IP address of this website is 74.125.45.99. So, before pinging the website, your system first resolves the website's name with DNS and gets the IP Address of the website. After it resolves the IP, it starts pinging the server with data packets.
Now you know how to find your computer's IP address along with how to find the IP address of a website.
How to optimize Mozilla Firefox
This is the age of the Internet and rarely does a day goes by when we are not online. I have been in this field for a long time and the most important thing for me when I am online is how comfortable I am with my Web Browser. I think we all have similar opinions about using a web browser. Internet Explorer has been in the market from the very beginning and over the years there have been many other web browsers in the market as well. Just for an example, Netscape had a quite a good start but later it faded out. Currently, there is one Web Browser that has surpassed all the competition in market and that is Mozilla Firefox. It has been my favorite web browser and I would recommend it to anyone.
For anyone who doesn't know, Firefox is the open source Web Browser from Mozilla. You can take it as a part of the Mozilla Web Browser Suit. Currently, it is released for every major version of OS including Windows, Linux and Mac OS. Since Firefox has all the cool features a general Web surfer would ever need, it has survived the competition with Internet Explorer, which Netscape could not do. Just to name a few good features, it has tabbed windows which will allow you to open new web pages inside one single Firefox window only. You still can choose to open every link in new windows if you want however. Second, it has in built protection for pop-ups. You also get inline spell checking, built in phrasing protection, and also a tab especially for Google search. Firefox has evolved while still keeping the general web user's needs in mind. That's what makes it one of the most used Web Browsers!
Though all the configurations of Firefox are designed for an optimized experience of Web Surfing, you can still enhance it some more. Many factors play an important role when we are talking about the speed of a Web Browser. It depends on your Internet connectivity, the Web Server you are visiting, and then most importantly your computer's hardware profile. So, here you will find all the tricks that can make your Firefox run faster than ever before.
First of all you need to open the editor where you will configure your Firefox. To do so, open your Firefox browser and type "about:configure" in the address bar (URL bar) and hit enter. The following page will open,
Read the warning message carefully because what you are about to do is really for an advanced user who knows what he or she is doing. If you aren't, then don't worry here. This guide will show you all the steps in detail. So, just click on the button saying "I'll be careful, I promise!" and the next window will open up,
First off all, you must know what HTTP stands for. It stands for Hyper Text Transfer protocol or the application layer protocol which every browser uses to communicate with the outer world. When you open a web page, your web browser sends a request to the web server and the response comes to the web browser which later is parsed by the browser for display. All of this communication is done in this HTTP. Now while opening a single web page, your browser needs to send multiple requests to the specified web server to get full data required to display the web page. Since HTTP 1.1, a new technology called pipelining has been implemented in Mozilla Firefox to bypass this problem. Using pipelining Firefox can send multiple requests to the web server before it receives any responses from the web server. It reduces the loading time of a web page by a significant amount by not waiting for a response from web server. To configure your Mozilla Firefox to do so, type "pipelining" in the "filter" bar as shown below and you will get four hits,
You will see various columns here. All we are concerned with are "Preference Name" and "Value". Look for the entry "network.http.pipelining" in the list and see its value. If it's false, double click on it and it will change to "true" along with some other changes under rest of the columns which we don't bother with. See the result below,
Setting this value to "true" will allow your Firefox to send multiple requests to any server before getting any response and you can start reading a web page before it is fully loaded. Now, we will change the value of the property name "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests". By defaults the value will be 4, so change it to at least 8. It defines the number of requests your Firefox can send simultaneously to a web server and if you are using a broad band connection then there is no point in keeping it to 4. If you are on dial-up, you probably want to leave it at 4. To change this, double click on the property and the following window will open up and you can enter the desired value there and hit "OK",
Now to enhance the capabilities of your Firefox more, look for the entry "network.http.proxy.pipelining". By default, the value should be "false", double click it to change it to "true". Now the configuration window should look something like the following,
These settings are the most important ones which will enable you to get your Firefox working at the maximum speed possible in any network environment regardless of the system you are using. As already mentioned, changing these settings is for advanced users. So, if at any point you feel like you messed something up, just right click the property and you will see an option "Reset" to restore the Browser's default value.
For anyone who doesn't know, Firefox is the open source Web Browser from Mozilla. You can take it as a part of the Mozilla Web Browser Suit. Currently, it is released for every major version of OS including Windows, Linux and Mac OS. Since Firefox has all the cool features a general Web surfer would ever need, it has survived the competition with Internet Explorer, which Netscape could not do. Just to name a few good features, it has tabbed windows which will allow you to open new web pages inside one single Firefox window only. You still can choose to open every link in new windows if you want however. Second, it has in built protection for pop-ups. You also get inline spell checking, built in phrasing protection, and also a tab especially for Google search. Firefox has evolved while still keeping the general web user's needs in mind. That's what makes it one of the most used Web Browsers!
Though all the configurations of Firefox are designed for an optimized experience of Web Surfing, you can still enhance it some more. Many factors play an important role when we are talking about the speed of a Web Browser. It depends on your Internet connectivity, the Web Server you are visiting, and then most importantly your computer's hardware profile. So, here you will find all the tricks that can make your Firefox run faster than ever before.
First of all you need to open the editor where you will configure your Firefox. To do so, open your Firefox browser and type "about:configure" in the address bar (URL bar) and hit enter. The following page will open,
Read the warning message carefully because what you are about to do is really for an advanced user who knows what he or she is doing. If you aren't, then don't worry here. This guide will show you all the steps in detail. So, just click on the button saying "I'll be careful, I promise!" and the next window will open up,
First off all, you must know what HTTP stands for. It stands for Hyper Text Transfer protocol or the application layer protocol which every browser uses to communicate with the outer world. When you open a web page, your web browser sends a request to the web server and the response comes to the web browser which later is parsed by the browser for display. All of this communication is done in this HTTP. Now while opening a single web page, your browser needs to send multiple requests to the specified web server to get full data required to display the web page. Since HTTP 1.1, a new technology called pipelining has been implemented in Mozilla Firefox to bypass this problem. Using pipelining Firefox can send multiple requests to the web server before it receives any responses from the web server. It reduces the loading time of a web page by a significant amount by not waiting for a response from web server. To configure your Mozilla Firefox to do so, type "pipelining" in the "filter" bar as shown below and you will get four hits,
You will see various columns here. All we are concerned with are "Preference Name" and "Value". Look for the entry "network.http.pipelining" in the list and see its value. If it's false, double click on it and it will change to "true" along with some other changes under rest of the columns which we don't bother with. See the result below,
Setting this value to "true" will allow your Firefox to send multiple requests to any server before getting any response and you can start reading a web page before it is fully loaded. Now, we will change the value of the property name "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests". By defaults the value will be 4, so change it to at least 8. It defines the number of requests your Firefox can send simultaneously to a web server and if you are using a broad band connection then there is no point in keeping it to 4. If you are on dial-up, you probably want to leave it at 4. To change this, double click on the property and the following window will open up and you can enter the desired value there and hit "OK",
Now to enhance the capabilities of your Firefox more, look for the entry "network.http.proxy.pipelining". By default, the value should be "false", double click it to change it to "true". Now the configuration window should look something like the following,
These settings are the most important ones which will enable you to get your Firefox working at the maximum speed possible in any network environment regardless of the system you are using. As already mentioned, changing these settings is for advanced users. So, if at any point you feel like you messed something up, just right click the property and you will see an option "Reset" to restore the Browser's default value.
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