Home  >>  BUYER'S GUIDE (Updated: May 14th, 2008) Quick Jump: Cases | Motherboards | CPU | RAM | Hard Drives | Optical Drives | Video Cards | Sound Cards | Mice / Keyboards | Speakers | Power | Networking BEFORE YOU BUY A COMPUTER, READ THIS "We want to be known as a company that provides excellent service and quality systems at fair prices." Can you upgrade my old computer? - Possibly. If compatible parts are still available and your system supports the desired upgrades, we may be able to get a few more miles out of it, but you'll still have an obsolete system. You may be better off replacing your old computer with something that uses newer technology. In the business world computers are usually replaced every 3 to 5 years because it costs more to maintain an older computer than it does to buy a new one. Older computers require more maintenance and repairs, they suffer from slow productivity and increased down time, and are more vulnerable to security breaches and virus attacks. Hardware and software compatibility issues also become a major problem. Also don't forget, most hard drives are designed to last only 5 years, that doesn't mean they will last 5 years. What makes your computers better? - We only use high quality parts. We build systems for demanding business environments where quality, reliability, value and customer satisfaction is a must. We rarely have to repair our own computers. What's wrong with buying from a salesperson? - Most salespeople are not trained technicians. They are paid to move whatever's on the shelves, no matter how bad or obsolete it is. Some places are still selling bad 802.11b wireless products and obsolete 32 bit computers. Sales people are trained to get your money, and some will tell you anything to make a sale. Don't underestimate the value of a good technician. What makes you any different? - Quality, technical expertise and service. We refused to stock 802.11b wireless devices because as experienced technicians, we knew a better solution was right around the corner. We are not contractually obligated to any supplier, and having accounts with over 20 distributors allows us to pick only the best products. We carry a small inventory, so while stores are busy clearing old stock, we can offer the latest products at competitive prices. We build systems for demanding businesses where quality, reliability, value and customer satisfaction is a must. These high standards also apply to the computers we build for home users. Who should I buy a computer from? - You want the right information in terms that are easy to understand. You want technical support from someone who works with computers everyday. You want a technician that's accessible and experienced. When that bargain tanks, you'll realize that a reputable technician would have been worth much more than the few bucks you thought you saved. What's wrong with that computer that's on sale? - Take a closer look at their adds. Most major brand names only advertise features, they don't mention who actually makes the parts inside. What's wrong with that add? - Often it's a bargain that will lure you to a store. Once you get there you discover that the add was misleading. They're out of stock, certain items are not included, or you need to upgrade to get the performance or features you want. With the salesperson's help, you end up spending way more on some other system that wasn't such a bargain after all. What's wrong with a brand name bargain? - These are also known as "throw away computers" because you use them until they break, and then you throw them away. Investors set up shop overseas, pump out tons of cheap parts, flood the market with them, make their money and close shop. When things go wrong, you are left with a boat anchor. We often get these bargain systems in for repairs, usually right after the warranty has just expired. You get what you pay for. Bargain systems usually contain poor quality parts that are problematic and have high failure rates. What about brand name computers? - Do you know what's inside? A brand name doesn't necessarily mean quality. Brand name systems often use proprietary parts, which means you cannot use off-the-shelf replacement parts. When things go wrong, you have to buy a part designed specifically for that computer. Proprietary parts are expensive to replace, and support is usually pathetic. We often get brand name systems in for repairs, usually right after their warranty has just expired. Are brand name systems really that bad? - Open one up and see for yourself. No slots for upgrades, slow bus speeds, leaky capacitors on the "Zonko" brand mother board, a mere 250 Watt proprietary power supply, not enough memory and no case fan! No wonder it died after 13 months. Who will you buy from next time? What about those free upgrades? - The term "free upgrade" is very misleading. The item is usually a low cost poor quality item to start out with, and you can bet the cost is built into the price somewhere else. They couldn't stay in business if they gave away free stuff. A "free upgrade" just means you pay for an item, and you pay for an over-priced computer in order to get the upgrade. You would be better off putting that extra money you're spending for that 'free upgrade' into a quality core component such as the motherboard. What about that free printer? - Oh you mean that $49 Lexmark that will actually cost you $149? They're not giving you anything for free, you have to buy the whole system. The cost is built into the price somewhere else. What about that free software? - There may be one or two useful programs, but the dollar value is always exaggerated, and you can bet the cost is built into the price somewhere else. Don't sacrifice the quality of a core component to get a bundle of clearance software that you don't need, and some time-limited trial software that you can download for free. What software do you include? - Our systems come with Windows installed, activated and updated (Full version OEM CD included) and Antivirus software that's good for at least a year. If you want you can purchase Microsoft WorkSuite 2006 or any other Microsoft Office Suite for really cheap (Full version OEM CDs included). Many of the big guys use trial versions of Antivirus software and Microsoft Office products that expire after 90 days. We could be misleading and advertise these free downloads as "$500 worth of free software" but we want to build a loyal customer base. What should I know about buying a computer with pre-installed software? - Make sure you get all the installation disks and product keys! A proper Microsoft Windows disk is preferable, but you may only get a 'Restore' or 'Recovery' disk, or you may have to make one yourself, but even that's better than nothing. If you didn't get any installation disks you got ripped off. Windows crashes and all hard drives fail, good luck installing Windows without any disks. What about your competitor's warranties? - Most stores don't actually do the repairs, they only process the paperwork. This means they ship your computer to a service depot. Hopefully a qualified technician will correctly identify the faulty part. The part may then be shipped to the manufacturer. The manufacturer may test the part, and if the problem is intermittent, it may get shipped back to the repair depot 'no fault found'. The repair depot would then re-install the faulty part, ship it back to the store, and eventually you get your computer back still in need of repairs. Sometimes you have to wait for the manufacturer to repair the part. Alternately they may ship a replacement back to the service depot. Sometimes the replacement is on back-order, or the wrong part gets shipped, or the order gets messed up, or the replacement is a faulty "refurbished" part, or the diagnosis was wrong and a different part has to be ordered. The store may not even process the warranty. You may have to take your computer to an authorized service center, or process the warranty yourself, jump through the manufacturer's red tape, and pay to ship it to the manufacturer. It'll probably be some time before you see your baby again, and you can kiss your data goodbye. What about your warranty? - We have over 20 local distributors and we also stock most popular replacement parts. Warranty service get priority so you usually get your baby back within 2 or 3 days. Please see our warranty page for more information, including details about our extended warranty program. What about their technical support? - Most salespeople are not technicians and they don't make money helping you, they get paid for selling products. You may have to call long distance or get trapped in an endless series of automated messages. You may get to speak to a script reader fresh out of school on the other side of the world. You will probably be frustrated and waste a lot of time. What about your technical support? - Our customers are loyal because they know that we are helpful and polite, and they know the value of a good technician. A technician will usually answer the phone right away during normal business hours. If you have a question that can be answered in a minute or two, just give us a call. If your call is going to take more than 5 minutes, then you will need to use our Phone Support Service or our Remote Assistance Service. How much should I spend? - Spend as much as you can comfortably afford. The more you invest, the longer your system should remain viable. You don't need to buy the latest and greatest, unless you have specific needs. Desktops tend to be cheaper than laptops, and you get more bang for you buck. Don't waste your money on some bargain with a bunch of frills and cheap components, unless you want a "throw-away" computer. What do I need? - That depends on what you want to do. You can use any of our computers to surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail, play music and basic games. Use the table below to help you understand what components your system might need. Return to Top RECOMMENDED DESKTOP CONFIGURATIONS   RAM CPU Motherboard Hard Drive Graphics Audio Surf & Email 512MB Basic Basic 80GB IDE On-board On-board Record CDs 1GB Basic Basic 160GB IDE On-board On-board Office Apps 1GB Mid-Range Mid-Range 160GB SATA Basic Graphics Card On-board Watch DVDs 1GB Mid-Range Mid-Range 160GB SATA Mid-Range Graphics Card On-board Photo Shop 2GB Mid-Range Mid-Range 400GB SATA Mid-Range Graphics Card On-board Media Center 2GB High-End High-End 400GB SATA Mid-Range Graphics Card Mid-Range Sound Card 3D Auto Cad 2GB High-End High-End 400GB SATA High-End Graphics Card On-board Hardcore Games 2GB High-End High-End 400GB SATA High-End Graphics Card High-End Sound Card Basic Server 4GB High-End High-End 400GB SATA + RAID Basic Graphics Card On-board Media Production 8GB High-End High-End 400GB SATA External Graphics External Audio Desktops - Desktops usually come in a tower, which typically sits on the floor under a desk. A monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers are all attached to the tower separately. This is a good choice for most gamers, homes and offices. Laptops - Laptops, also known as notebooks, are battery-powered, portable and lightweight. The monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers are built in, but you can also attach external devices such as a mouse, printer and larger monitor, as well. This is a good choice for businesspeople who travel or students who need to move from a dorm to a library, lecture hall, café, etc. Models with DVD players can also be used as a portable entertainment system. Return to Top LAPTOP / DESKTOP COMPARISON   Advantages Disadvantages Laptops Small, lightweight, portable Runs on rechargeable battery or power source Expensive Less bang for your buck Harder & expensive to repair Uses expensive proprietary parts Limited availability of parts Almost no upgrade options Stuck with display Few shops offer repairs (We do) Repairs & upgrades require shop service Easy to steal Often dropped and knocked off tables Higher failure rates Batteries require constant recharging Batteries & power adapters fail Desktops Cheaper More bang for your buck Easier & cheaper to repair & upgrade Uses off-the-shelf cheaper parts Parts readily available everywhere Many upgrade options Easy to upgrade display Many expansion & add-on capabilities Most shops offer repairs & upgrades Many repairs & upgrades can be done onsite Harder to steal Rarely dropped or knocked off tables Lower failure rates Large, heavy, not made for portability Requires power source Return to Top CASES AND POWER SUPPLIES: Do I need a case? - Yes, unless you want us to use your old case, or a case you've acquired elsewhere. Can you use my old case? - We can use your old case if it's a standard ATX case with adequate ventilation and enough room, but the power supply is probably old and underpowered. Many new cases include a new power supply and most also have a case fan or two. Bargain systems often use noisy sleeve bearing fans that have shorter life spans. Our case fans and power supply fans use ball bearing fans. What should I get? - Larger cases provide better cooling and are easier to work on. Good ventilation is a must. Cooler systems tend to last longer. A quiet, quality power supply with plenty of power is also a must. Good Advice - Don't keep your computer enclosed in a cabinet. If heated air can't get out, your computer acts like an oven. Excessive heat causes random errors and premature failure. If any of the fans in your computer start to make strange noises or stop working, shut the computer off and get it fixed immediately. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement (parts and labour) warranty on all new power supplies and case fans we install. Beware of Bargains - Most brand name systems use cheap power supplies and have no case fan. They are underpowered and premature failure is common. Add a drive and results can be catastrophic. Do you really want stray voltages surging through your system? POWER REQUIREMENTS Component Wattage Required Motherboard 15 - 30 Low-end CPU 20 - 50 Midrange CPU 50 - 80 High-end CPU 80 - 100 RAM 7 per 128MB PCI cards 5 each Low-end graphics board 20 - 60 High-end graphics board 60 - 100 IDE hard drive 10 - 30 Optical drives 10 - 25 Add at least 30% for headroom and upgrades. Return to Top MOTHERBOARDS: What is a motherboard? - Think of it as the nervous system, it is the main circuit board in a computer. It has internal connectors for attaching the CPU, memory, power supply, floppy drive, hard drives, optical drives, sound cards, video cards, network cards, etc. It also has controller chips, and ports to connect peripheral devices as well. Do I need a motherboard? - Yes, a computer won't work without one. Can you use my old motherboard? - No, unless we're just upgrading your old computer. Old motherboards don't support the new processors or the new memory. What motherboard should I get? - You'll probably need our help here, because we'll have to choose a motherboard that fits your requirements. We'll have to consider your budget, performance and hardware requirements. We will need to determine what devices you want on-board, and what internal and external devices will be used. We'll also have to ensure that the board supports each device, and can accommodate any future upgrades that may be desired. What do you recommend? - Spend a few extra bucks and get a good quality motherboard, and buy it from a reputable technician that provides excellent warranty service. He can also make sure you get a system that supports the devices and programs you intend to use with it, and make sure the bus speeds are up to the task. Graphics - A graphics card can greatly improve performance and stability. Using a graphics card frees up the CPU to do other things like running your programs. It's like having a separate CPU for processing the video signal. If you don't want a graphics card, you will have to get a motherboard that has on-board graphics. Sound - Most motherboards nowadays provide adequate onboard sound. If you use your computer as a media center, get a separate sound card to provide better quality and free up system resources. If you plan on using your computer for media production work, get an external device for audio production. Memory - Make sure your motherboard supports dual memory and the higher memory speeds. Get 2 banks of the faster matching RAM installed. Get at least 1GB. Hard Drive Support - All motherboards support standard ultra ATA hard drives (133MB/sec), and most nowadays support the faster Serial, or SATA II hard drives (300MB/sec). Get the faster SATA hard drives. Back Ups - For servers and mission-critical workstations, get a motherboard that supports RAID and Serial ATA hard drives. Buy 2 matching hard drives and mirror them. We can also provide automated backup solutions. No Junk Policy - We choose ASUS motherboards because of their proven superiority when it comes to reliability, stability, functionality, compatibility, performance, price and quality. Recommended by technicians everywhere. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty (parts and labour) on all new motherboards we install. Most motherboards also come with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. Beware of Bargains - Every component in and around a computer plugs into, and relies on the motherboard. It is not a good idea to compromise on quality here. Bargain systems often use cheap motherboards, and premature failure is common. Return to Top CPU: What is a CPU? - CPU stands for central processing unit. It is also known as a processor. Think of it as the brain, it does the majority of the number crunching. Do I need a CPU? - Yes, a computer won't work without one. Can you use my old processor? - No, unless we're just upgrading your old computer. An old processor won't fit into a new motherboard. What processor should I get? - That depends on what you plan to do with the computer, and your budget. Get as fast a processor as possible, that way it will perform better, and more time will pass before it becomes obsolete. A dual-core processor is a good choice, and soon multi-core processors will hit the market. What speed should I get? - A faster clock speed does not always mean better performance. For years many AMD processors ran at lower clock speeds, ran cooler, did more per clock cycle, and regularly outperformed similar Intel processors. A good site for comparing CPU performance ratings is Tom's Hardware Guide Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty on all new processors we install. Most of the processors we use also come with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. Return to Top RAM: (Memory) What is RAM - RAM (random access memory) is also known as memory. RAM is a bank or banks of chips used to temporarily store data for processing by the CPU. It allows the computer to quickly retrieve and use the data as required. Do I need RAM - Yes, a computer will not work without it. Can you use my old RAM? - No, unless we're just upgrading your old computer. New systems use faster chips, and the old memory won't fit into the slots on the new motherboards. How much RAM should I get? - If budget is a concern you can get away with 512MB and add more later if you want. We recommend at least 1GB or more for running Windows Vista. Performance Tip - Make sure your motherboard supports dual memory and the higher memory speeds. Get 2 banks of the faster matching RAM installed. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty on all new RAM we install. All the memory we use in our new computers comes with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty as well. Return to Top HARD DRIVES: What is a hard drive? - A hard drive is a mechanical device used to store data. The operating system (usually Microsoft Windows), all your installed programs, and all your documents are stored on your hard drive. Do I need a hard drive? - Yes, a computer won't work without one. Can you use my old hard drive? - Yes, as long as it works and has enough capacity for your requirements. Bear in mind that the life expectancy of a hard drive is about 5 years. All hard drives will fail, and when that happens, you loose everything, so make backups. What hard drive should I get? - That depends on what you plan to do with the computer, and your budget. You'll need a larger hard drive if you want to store a lot of data, or large files such as music, pictures, and movies. SATA II hard drives with larger buffers tend to perform better. We use Seagate hard drives because they have a much lower failure rate compared to other brands. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty (parts and labour) on all new hard drives we install. Seagate also provides a 5-year manufacturer's warranty. Beware of Bargains - There are a couple of brands that you can find on sale everywhere. Experience has shown us that those brands have a very high failure rate. It is not a good idea to compromise on quality here. Bargain systems usually use poor quality hard drives, and premature failure is common. Return to Top OPTICAL DRIVES: Good Advice - To reduce wear and tear, remove discs from the drive when they're not being used. Hold them by the edges, put them in a proper sleeve, and keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. What should I get? - We use LG DVD-RW optical drives in all our computers because they have a very low failure rate, they can read and write just about every type of media there is, and they come bundled with great software. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty (parts and labour) on all new optical drives we install. Manufacturer's warranty may be longer. MEDIA FORMAT GUIDE Format: Max Speed Rating: Max Data Transfer Rate: Capacity: Read/Write Ability: CD-ROM 56x 8.4MB/sec 700MB Read only CD-R 52x 7.8MB/sec 700MB Recordable CD-RW 32x 4.8MB/sec 650MB Re-writeable DVD-ROM 16x 22MB/sec 4.7GB Read only DVD-R 8x 11MB/sec 4.7GB Recordable DVD+R 8x 11MB/sec 4.7GB Recordable DVD-RW 4x 5.5MB/sec 4.7GB Re-writeable DVD+RW 4x 5.5MB/sec 4.7GB Re-writeable DVD-RAM 4x 5.5MB/sec 9.4GB double-sided Re-writeable What is a CD-ROM disc? - These are pre-recorded CDs that usually have music or software on them. They cannot be used for recording. What is a CD-R disc? - This is a blank CD that can be recorded onto only once. They hold up to 700MB of data, which makes them great for making backups, archives, and custom music CDs. What is a CD-RW disc? - This is a blank CD that can be re-used many times. They hold up to 650MB of data, and can be reformatted (erased) and recorded onto again and again. CD-RW discs can only be read by CD-RW drives and newer devices that support MultiRead. CD-RW discs are suitable for backing up things like monthly reports that need to be overwritten frequently. What is MultiRead? - Drives that support the MultiRead standard can read most audio and data CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs. What is a CD-ROM drive? - CD-ROM stands for "compact disk read-only memory". They are devices that are used to read data CDs and play music CDs. Newer CD-ROM drives can read most audio and data CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs; they cannot record. What is a CD-RW drive? - CD-RW stands for CD-recordable/re-writable. A modern CD-RW drive can read most audio and data CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs, and it can also record data and music to CD-R and CD-RW discs. What does 52x36x52 mean? - The first number is the write speed for recording (burning) a single session CD-R or DV-R disc. In this case it would take less than 3 minutes to burn a CD. (52 x 150 KB/sec = 7800KB/sec). The second number is the rewrite speed for erasing and recording a CD-RW, a DVD+RW, a DVD-RW, or a DVD-RAM. The last number is the read speed, or how fast a drive reads a disc. Fast read speeds won't improve video or music playback, but it will accelerate software installation or anything that involves copying huge data files. What is Multisession Recording? - A modern CD-RW allows you to add data to a CD-R or CD-RW disc over time. Multisession recording is usually reserved for special applications such as Kodak Photo CDs. Files saved to a multisession disc may not be accessible until the disc has been finalized, and may not be readable in drives that do not support multisession, so you are usually better off using packet writing software to record data over time. What is Packet Writing? - A modern CD-RW allows you to add data to a CD-R or CD-RW disc over time. Packet writing software such as Nero's "InCD", NTI's "FileCD", B's "Clip", Roxio's "DirectCD" or their newer "Drag-To-Disc" allow you to record data onto a CD-R or CD-RW disc from Windows Explorer, My Computer, or by using File/Save As. It lets you treat a CD-R or CD-RW disc as though it were a big floppy disc. Discs must be formatted before you can write to them, and they can only be read by computers that have packet writing software installed. How do I make music CD's - First bear in mind that compatibility can be a big issue. Not all players get along with all brands of media (disks). You need to find a combination of recorder, media, and player that get along. Also if you burn a bunch of .WAV files to a CD, you'll only be able to play them in a computer, and on some of the newer players. Here's some tips on how to make music CD's: Use a new blank CD-R disc. Do not use packet writing. Record in CD-DA format for use in older car and home stereos (about 10-17 songs/CD) Record in WAV format for use in newer players that support WAVs (about 10-17 songs/CD) Record in MP3 format for use in newer players that support MP3s (about 100-170 songs/CD) Make sure the option to close (finalize) the session at the end is selected. Record your songs in one pass. How To make MP3s - First extract (rip) the audio from the original CD, and then encode it as an MP3 and save it to your hard drive. Some programs can "rip" and "encode" in one easy step. Higher quality settings result in larger MP3 files. Most people can't tell the difference between an MP3 at 160Kbps and the original. How do I Make All My Songs the Same Volume? - The process is called normalizing. When you have audio files from different sources, they will probably have different volume levels. When making your custom music CD, you'll want equal volume on all the tracks. Most newer CD recording programs will automatically normalize audio files for you when you select 'Audio CD'. Older programs may require you to manually enable this feature, yet others may not even have this feature, in which case you will need to find and use software that offers 'normalization'. RESOURCES: Recording CDs Recording CDs with Windows XP Recording CDs with Windows Vista Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD and DVD Player DVD±R/W Compatibility list What is DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R DL? Return to Top GRAPHICS CARDS: What is a video card? - Video cards are also known as graphics cards. They are special circuit boards designed to process the large amounts of data that are needed to render images onscreen. They plug into a PCI, AGP, or PCI express slot on the motherboard. Graphics cards must be supported by the motherboard. Your monitor must also be able to support the resolution the graphics card puts out. Do I need a graphics card? - Maybe. Some motherboards have what is known as "integrated", "proprietary", "on-board" or "built-in" graphics. Better quality motherboards can also accommodate a separate graphics card. On-board graphics is ok for basic computing, but you'll want a graphics card if you plan on watching movies, editing pictures or gaming. Some performance motherboards require a separate graphics card. Can you use my old video card? - Only if it's a PCI Express graphics card. Today's graphics cards are cheap, have much more memory, and are much faster than a card that is 2 or 3 years old. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty (parts and labour) on all new graphics cards we install. Manufacturer's warranty may be longer. Beware of Bargains - Many bargain computers have 'integrated' graphics that just can't cut it. In other words, there is no graphics card to process the video data. Instead there is a connector on the motherboard that relies heavily on the system's resources to render an image. Those systems tend to be slower and are more likely to hang and crash. Bargain computers usually don't even have a slot for a graphics card, and the performance of their onboard graphics usually sucks. Performance Tip - Processing graphics requires a lot of resources and can bog down a system. A graphics card can free up the CPU and greatly improve performance and stability. It's like having a separate CPU (known as a GPU or Graphics Processing Unit) just to handle the video. Return to Top AUDIO CARDS: What is an audio card? - Audio cards are also known as sound cards. They are special circuit boards designed to process the large amounts of data that are needed to process sound. Audio cards plug into a PCI slot on the motherboard, and are used to improve sound quality. Do I need an audio card? - If you plan on using your computer primarily for listening to music, you'll want an audio card. The integrated audio on today's motherboards is not bad, but there's still room for improvement. Your system will only sound as good as the weakest link, so if you have poor quality speakers, there's not much point in buying an audio card. Can you use my old sound card? - That depends on what it is. The onboard sound found on today's quality motherboards can usually produce better quality sound than many audio cards that are just a few years old. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty (parts and labour) on all new audio cards we install. Manufacturer's warranty may be longer. Performance Tip - Processing audio requires a lot of resources and can bog down a system. If you want to use your computer to play music, get a separate audio card to process the sound. That will free up system resources and improve the performance and stability of the computer, and provide better quality sound. It's like having a separate processor for your music. Links: SoundBlaster Return to Top MICE / KEYBOARDS: Can I use my old mouse and keyboard? - Yes. You may need an adapter if they're really old. What about wireless? - We can get wireless keyboards and mice, but we don't really recommend them, especially for business use. You don't want to risk losing connectivity while you're in the middle of an important project. What about an optical mouse? - An optical mouse can be used on almost any smooth surface, they are easy to control, and they don't have a track ball that always needs cleaning. They are also a great addition to a laptop, and they make great gifts. Warranty - Peripherals such as mice, keyboards and controllers are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Return to Top SPEAKERS: Recommendations - If you wanna rock, get Logitech THX® Certified speakers. Marry them up with a THX® Certified sound card and you'll have the best. Anything more would require a professional sound reinforcement system. Warranty - Peripherals such as speakers are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Links:  Altec Lansing  Creative Labs  Logitech Return to Top POWER: You Have Dirty Power - Statistics show that on average there are 365 problems with your power every month. Add to that the fact that many commercial and industrial areas, apartments, townhouses and older buildings have all kinds of additional power problems, and you have a recipe for disaster. It can cause data loss, crashes and hardware failures. Power Bars - What good is a monster power bar without voltage regulation? Power bars can make things worse by overloading a circuit. Running too many devices from one circuit causes a low voltage condition known as a "brown-out". When your voltage is low, your computer runs hotter and you risk premature hardware failure. Voltage Regulators - For only $69 you can purchase a 600 Watt Voltage Regulator that filters out all the junk and provides proper clean power, even when your wall voltage is high or low. UPS Devices - Our UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) devices also have voltage regulation and battery power. It provides clean power, and provides short-term battery power when the power goes out. Recommendations - Protect your equipment and buy a voltage regulator, or a UPS device with voltage regulation. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty on all new power supplies we install. Manufacturer's warranty may be longer. Peripherals such as UPS devices, power bars and voltage regulators are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Return to Top NETWORKING: Business Networks - We can provide solutions to satisfy all your networking requirements. We can enhance the security and functionality of your existing network, or we can custom build and configure an entire network from the ground up. We can provide servers, workstations and laptops, develop and roll out custom database applications, configure remote and wireless access, and provide administrative services. Just call 604-590-6098 for more information. Home Networks - If you want to share your internet connection with more than one computer, or want to wander around the house with your laptop, or host a LAN party, then a home network is what you need. You can also share files, printers, and other devices much faster and more conveniently, and use new applications like online games. We can provide all the cables and hardware, and have one of our technicians set it all up for you. Network Drops & Cabling - We can install network drops with low-voltage receptacles, quick connectors and wall plates for that clean professional look. We can run cable around buildings, inside walls, through attics and crawl spaces, and just about anywhere that can be reasonably accessed. What is a Dial-Up Adapter? - Dial-up adapters are also called dial-up modems. They are considered old technology because of their painfully slow speeds. They are usually mounted inside a computer, and have one or two phone jacks on them that are slightly narrower that a RJ-45 ethernet cable connector. All you need is a working computer with a dial-up adapter, a standard phone line, and Internet service to access the Internet. You usually pay a small monthly fee for dial-up service, and when you are online, you probably won't be able to use your phone. To share a dial-up Internet connection, the computer hosting the dial-up adapter must run Internet Connection Sharing or similar software. What is a Network Adapter? - Network adapters are also known as network interface cards, or NIC cards. The most common type of network adapter is an ethernet adapter. These high-speed adapters are mounted in a PCI slot inside a computer, and are used to access the Internet via an ethernet cable, or a wireless connection. The hard-wired versions have one RJ-45 ethernet jack on them that looks like a standard phone jack, but is slightly wider. Wireless adapters usually have a small antenna. You can share a high-speed Internet connection by using a wireless or hard-wired router connected to a high-speed modem. What is a Cable or DSL modem? - These modems provide an "always-on" high-speed connection to the Internet via your phone line or cable connection. They can usually be rented or purchased from service providers such as Telus, Shaw and Delta Cable (DCCNET). You usually pay a monthly fee for high-speed service, and when you are online, you can use your phone. These high-speed modems should not be used without a firewall. What is a Router? - A router is like an intelligent splitter. They allow 2 or more computers to connect to each other, and access the Internet at the same time through a single high-speed internet connection. Routers come in two main flavors, wired and wireless. A hard-wired router usually costs less than a wireless router, is more reliable, provides faster speeds, and uses cheap ethernet cables to connect everything together. A router also acts as a hardware firewall. Wireless Routers - A wireless router is also known as an access point. Wireless (Wi-Fi) networks use radio waves to connect your computers and distribute high-speed Internet service. This allows you to locate your computers in rooms where it might not be practical to run a cable. Wireless systems are slower than hard-wired systems, but still provide enough speed for the average user. What about reliability? - Hard-wired networks are extremely reliable as long as you don't step on the cables, and keep them away from things like fluorescent light fixtures and electrical motors. Wireless systems are notorious for loosing their connection, and often require a technician to come and work out the bugs. Interference can be a problem, especially since wireless systems operate at the same frequency as microwave ovens and cordless phones (2.4GHz). What about speed? - Most ethernet networks use CAT5 cables that support speeds from 10 Mbps to 100Mbps. Gigabit networks require CAT5E (enhanced) cables that support speeds up to 1,000Mbps. Bear in mind that the Internet tops out at 10Mbps, so speeds above that are only useful on your internal network. Wireless systems that use the 802.11b standard support speeds up to 11 Mbps, the 802.11a standard supports up to 54Mbps, and the newer 802.11g standard can support up to 108Mbps. This is fast enough for home Internet connections and file sharing, but may not be sufficient for home LAN gaming. Performance degrades with distance and degrades even further as more devices use the system. What about security? - Most broadband cable or DSL modems don't provide any security. Using them without a router leaves you wide open to hackers and other online threats. Put a router between your computers and your high-speed modem. It also acts as a hardware firewall by hiding the IP addresses of devices on your home network. Hackers see the address of your router instead of your computers. Remember to change the default password and don't loose it. What about wireless security? - As long as you have WPA wireless encryption turned on and use strong passwords on your router and user accounts, you are reasonably safe. WPE uses a combination of secret user keys and system-generated values to encrypt the data before it gets transmitted. Click here for tips on wireless security. What about firewalls? - Nowadays it is best to use a combination of both hardware and software firewalls. We recommend using a router and a software firewall. You can find more information about firewalls here. If you use older legacy Microsoft operating systems like Windows 98, Me, or NT 4.0, you can still find a free firewall here. We haven't tested this one, so you are on your own. What about coverage? - With most hard-wired networks, a single router can supply a signal to the whole house, assuming that installing the cable isn't a problem. Wireless networks can be another story. To get whole-house coverage in a large house, you may need to run a cable from a compatible router to an antenna installed near the top of your cathedral ceiling. To get whole-house coverage in a 2-storey house where your modem and router is at one end of the basement, you'll probably need to run a cable from the router to a wireless access point located high in the center of the coverage area. Most access point devices also need a power outlet. Some use Power Over Ethernet (POE) which eliminates the need to have power nearby. Need more distance? - For wireless networks you can increase the area covered by adding additional antennas and wireless access points. For hard-wired networks you can use hubs, switches and routers, depending on your requirements. If you need to extend a LAN further than these devices allow, you may want to consider fibre optic extensions. Fiber optic Ethernet cables (10BaseFL or 100BaseFX) can be used for distances up to 2,000 meters. WIRED vs WIRELESS COMPARISON   Wired: Wireless: (802.11g) Setup Time Fast (unless network drops are needed) Configuration takes time Configuration Easy Requires technical skills Installation Cost Less (More if network drops are desired) More Hardware Cost Less More Reliability Excellent Good, interference can be a problem Speed Excellent Good, drops with encryption, walls & distance Security Excellent Good if configured properly Mobility Limited by cable length Limited by walls & signal strength Distance up to 100m (328 feet) up to 100m (328 feet) No Junk Policy - We use D-Link products. We found that other brands needed resetting more often, had higher failure rates, and cost just as much or more. We have not and will not ever sell any 802.11b wireless products. We knew the technology was problematic and that the 802.11g standard was coming. We also use good quality cables with moulded ends and boots for superior strength and reliability. Wireless Problems - We carry the best wireless router, however be aware that wireless devices are the most troublesome of all peripherals. If you go wireless, you may find that you require additional on-site service calls to work out the bugs, and that costs money. Warranty - We provide a 1-year replacement warranty on all new internal network cards and cable drops we install. Manufacturer's warranty may be longer. Peripherals such as switches, routers and wireless USB adapters are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. For more information on networking, click here. If you you're not sure what you need, click here for an interactive networking advisor, or call us at 604-590-6098. Return to Top