9. Graphics Card Comparison Chart

Most of this is taken from Notebookreview. Some parts i added
By: ChazMan

The purpose of this chart is to show where a given GPU places in the 3D mobile arena. I have included everything from integrated and the outdated AGP graphics cards to the latest PCI-express ones.

This is a quick and easy way to find out if your computer can run any game:
http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest.

Integrated and AGP graphics

1. Integrated Graphics Cards
2. AGP Cards
3. PCI-Express Cards

The cards are in order, from top to bottom, in the level of performance.
In order from lowest to highest performance.

Part #1: Integrated Graphics Processors

In order of performance:

Intel Extreme Graphics
SiS Integrated Graphics
Intel Extreme Graphics 2
Intel GMA900
Intel GMA950
ATI Radeon Xpress 200M

Part #2: Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) Cards:

In order of performance:

Nvidia GeForce 4 440 Go
ATI Radeon 9000

Nvidia FX Go5200
ATI Radeon 9200

Nvidia FX Go5600/5650
ATI Radeon 9600

Nvidia FX Go5700
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700

ATI Radeon 9800 (no competition)

Notes: The Nvidia Go FX series are horribly outdated, and will not perform well in the latest games. ATI's Mobility Radeon 9600/9700/9800 are considerably better in the latest games, but still not ideal. Skip all of the above cards if you can and get a newer one. Avoid the Nvidia FX.

Part #3: PCI Express (PCI-e x16) Cards

In order of performance:

ATI Radeon X300
Nvidia Go6200
Nvidia Go7300
ATI Mobility X1300

Nvidia GeForce Go6400
ATI Radeon X600
Nvidia Go7400
ATI Radeon X1400

Nvidia Go6600
ATI Mobility X700
Nvidia Go7600
ATI Radeon X1600

Nvidia Go6800
ATI Radeon X800
Nvidia Go6800 Ultra
ATI Radeon X800XT
Nvidia Go7800
ATI Radeon X1800

Nvidia Go7900GS
Nvidia Go7800GTX
ATI Radeon X1800XT
Nvidia Go7900GTX


The ultimate chart - including all cards:

In order of performance:

Intel Extreme Graphics

SiS Integrated

Intel Extreme Graphics 2

Intel GMA900

Intel GMA950

Nvidia GeForce 4 440 Go

ATI Mobility Radeon 9000

Nvidia FX Go5200

ATI Radeon Xpress 200M

ATI Mobility Radeon 9200

Nvidia FX Go5600/5650

ATI Radeon 9600

ATI Radeon X300

Nvidia GeForce Go7300

ATI Radeon X1300

ATI Radeon 9700

ATI Radeon X600

Nvidia GeForce Go7400

ATI Radeon X1400

Nvidia Go6600

ATI Radeon 9800

ATI Radeon X700

Nvidia Go6800

ATI Radeon X800

Nvidia Go7600

ATI Radeon X1600

Nvidia Go6800 Ultra

ATI Radeon X800XT

Nvidia Go7800

ATI Radeon X1800

Nvidia Go7900GS

Nvidia Go7800GTX

ATI Radeon X1800XT

Nvidia Go7900GTX

There you go.


All About Pixel Pipelines for Graphics Cards
By Meaker and Neeyik

This is a condensed version:

Ultra High end - 512mb useful
--------
7900GTX SLI = 24 PSUs, 8 vertex units, 16 ROPs, 256 bit mem (500/600) *2 SM3
7800GTX SLI = 24 PSUs, 8 vertex units, 16 ROPs, 256 bit mem (400/550) *2 SM3

High end - 256mb useful
--------
7900GTX = 24 PSUs, 8 vertex units, 16 ROPs, 256 bit mem (500/600) SM3
X1800 XT = 16 PSUs, 8 vertex units, 16 ROPs, 256 bit mem (550/650) SM3
7800GTX = 24 PSUs, 8 vertex units, 16 ROPs, 256 bit mem (400/550) SM3
7900GS = 20 PSUs, 7 vertex units, 12 ROPs, 256 bit mem (375/500) SM3
X1800 = 12 PSUs, 8 vertex units, 12 ROPs, 256 bit mem (450/500) SM3

Mid-High end - 256 mb useful
--------
x800xt = 16 PSUs, 6 vertex units, 16 ROPs, 256 bit mem (480/550)
6800U = 12 PSUs, 5 vertex units, 16 ROPs, 256 bit mem (450/550) SM3
7600GT = 12 PSUs, 5 vertex units, 8 ROPs, 128 bit mem (600/500) SM3
x800pro = 12 PSUs, 6 vertex units, 12 ROPs, 256 bit mem (400/400)
7800 = 16 PSUs, 6 vertex units, 16 ROPs, 256 bit mem (250/329) SM3
6800 = 12 PSUs, 5 vertex units, 12 ROPs, 256 bit mem (300/300) SM3

Mid range - 256mb useful
--------
x1600 = 12 PSUs, 5 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 128 bit mem (470/470) SM3
7600 = 8 PSUs, 5 vertex units, 8 ROPs, 128 bit mem (~450/500) SM3
x700 = 8 PSUs, 6 vertex units, 8 ROPs, 128 bit mem (350/300)
6600 = 8 PSUs, 3 vertex units, 8 ROPs, 128 bit mem (300/300) SM3

Low end - 128mb useful
--------
x1400 = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 128 bit mem (432/400) SM3
x1300 = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 128 bit mem (hyper mem) (400/325) SM3
7400 = 4 PSUs, 3 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 64 bit mem (450/450) SM3
x600 = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 128 bit mem (400/250)
x600se = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs,128bit mem (358/277)
9700 = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 128 bit mem (450/213)
9600 = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 128 bit mem (333/? (240 turbo))
6400 = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 64 bit mem (400/350) SM3
7300 = 4 PSUs, 3 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 64 bit mem (350/350) SM3
x300 = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 64 bit mem (300/230)
6200 = 4 PSUs, 2 vertex units, 4 ROPs, 64 bit mem (300/300) SM3

Ultra low end - N/A
--------
7200 = ? PSUs, ? vertex units, ? ROPS, system memory only (?/N/A) SM3
6150 = 2 PSUs, 1 vertex unit, 2 ROPs, system memory only (475/N/A)** SM3
6100 = 2 PSUs, 1 vertex unit, 2 ROPs, system memory only (425/N/A) ** SM3
xpress1150 = 2 PSUs, 2? vertex units, 2 ROPs, 128^ bit & 32* bit mem (400/ (SYS MEM & ?*))
xpress1100 = 2 PSUs, 2? vertex units, 2 ROPs, 128^ bit & 32* bit mem (300/ (SYS MEM & ?*))
xpress200 = 2 PSUs, 2? vertex units, 2 ROPs, 128^ bit & 32* bit mem (300/ (SYS MEM & 350*))
5x00 = 4 PSUs, (Array) vertex units, 4 ROPs, 128 bit/64 bit mem (%/%)
All other integrated solutions (GMA 900, 950 etc.)

*Dependant on memory attached to side port
** Performance of these two is identical
^system mem bus width
% Covers entire series, pretty awful due to high power consumption and generally poor arc, 5700go would rate a little higher but those above it perform much better in DX9 titles such as HL2 therefore they get stuck at the bottom.

* = Dependant on memory attached to side port
^ = System mem bus width
% = Covers entire series, pretty awful due to high power consumption and generally poor arc, 5700 Go would rate a little higher but those above it perform much better in DX9 titles such as HL2 therefore they get stuck at the bottom.


Basic Explanations of video card classes:

Integrated Graphics cards:

Although integrated graphics cards are for basic purposes, it would be useful to include it in this guide to answer any questions vs. dedicated graphics.
Integrated Graphics cards are not what you want to have if you plan on doing 3D-related activities. They are fine for web browsing, watching videos/DVD's, and other basic tasks, but they are not suited for much else.

Out of the cards I have listed, the GMA900 is the most common, often found in lower-end mainstream notebooks. It is currently being replaced by the GMA950, which is not that much faster [still useless for 3D] in newer notebooks. The GMA900/950 is only found in Intel notebooks.
Another common integrated GPU is the ATI Radeon Xpress 200M, avaliable in two versions - one with shared memory (does not have any of its own memory), and one with dedicated, which has its own memory, meaning it doesn't have to borrow memory from your main RAM. The X200M is the best integrated graphics card in terms of performance today, much faster than the Intel GMA900/950. It is mainly found in AMD-based notebooks, although it is starting to make its way into the Intel-based notebooks. For comparison purposes, the dedicated X200M is about 2/3 as fast as a standard Mobility Radeon X300, which it is based on. The X200M is actually capable of some light 3D, but remember that it is integrated, and you will be very limited when it comes to games - do not buy it for that purpose.

Two real advantages of integrated GPU's is that they are very light on power, and they reduce the overall cost of the notebook signifigantly. But, remember - these cards are not 3D work, so steer clear if you plan on doing that. The only exception I can make is the X200M - it is at the bottom of the barrel for performance compared to any of the dedicated cards I have listed in this comparison, but will still beat any other integrated card handily.

Low-End Graphics Cards (highlighted in blue):

These cards are fine for multimedia purposes, plus light 3D, but don't expect to play the latest games at anything but lower settings. That is not what they are designed for anyway. If you are a gamer, these cards are not for you. These cards can be found in any number of notebook sizes, ranging from as low as 13.3" to 17". I'd recommend having one of these cards if you like to do multimedia-oriented tasks more often than not (Photoshop, apps. such as that so that the video card won't take any of your system memory as with an integrated card).

The latter two cards, the X1300/Go7300, are the replacements for the X300/6200.

What games can I play on these?

As I stated, you aren't going to want these cards for gaming. Counter-Strike: Source and Half-Life 2, plus older generation cards such as Unreal Tournament 2004 would be fine, but newer games such as FEAR - barely, if at all, playable. Don't bother.

Mainstream/Mid-range Graphics Cards (highlighted in green):

A clear step up in performance from the low-end cards, these cards are good enough to play the latest games at medium settings and resolutions give or take, but do not expect blazing performance. These cards are fine for the occasional gamer, but if the prime intent of your notebook is to game, you won't get spectacular performance out of these.
Mid-end cards do not produce a large amount of heat, and therefore, can be found in smaller notebooks around 13.3-14". However, they would be more common in a larger 15.4" notebooks.

The X1400/Go7400 are the replacements for the X600/6400.

Performance Standings: The two newest cards in this segment are the Go7400 and the X1400. Of the two, it is advisable to get the Radeon X1400 over the GeForce Go7400. The Go7400 is a limited card, unimpressive. One of the reasons it is a poor performer is because of the memory bus - where as a normal card in this range has a 128-bit bus, the Go7400 only has a 64-bit, which cuts the bandwidth in half and effectively drags down performance.
The Radeon X1400 on the other hand has a full 128-bit bus, and will prove to be the stronger card overall.

What games can I play on these?

Unlike the low-end cards, these actually have a chance at the latest games. You can play HL2/CS:S fine, along with Far Cry and games similar to that. FEAR is where these cards will choke up, but it's going to be playable at lower settings and resolution.

Performance Graphics Cards (highlighted in red):

The Performance cards are designed for 3D gaming on a mobile level; you don't have to get a huge desktop replacement in order to have one of these cards. They do not produce a huge amount of heat, but don't exactly run cool. Battery life is balanced. A notebook equipped with one of these cards will see noticeably lower battery life when compared to one that has integrated graphics.
Performance-class cards are great for gamers wanting fast 3D performance in a mobile form factor. These cards are capable of playing the latest games with no problems, at close to or maximum settings and a balanced resolution. Typically, expect to see performance cards in a 15-15.4" notebook.

The new GeForce Go7600 is replacing the current generation Go6600, and ATI also has the X1600 as a replacement for the current X700.

What games can I play on these?

These cards are what to target if you want to play games at good settings and resolution. They can handle just about everything on high settings (at various resolutions, depends on the game), the Go7600/X1600 more so than the Go6600/X700. FEAR would be decent on a system with one of these cards as long as you have a decent amount of RAM. An X700/Go6600 can run FEAR at high settings at 800x600, the X1600 and Go7600 can do the same but at higher resolutions. It is advisable to get a Go7600/X1600 over the Go6600/X700 because they will be better able to play newer games.

High-End/Desktop Replacement (left as black):

Not found in many notebooks, the high-end cards are at the top of their game, easily playing the latest games at maximum settings. However, all that performance comes at a price. A large amount of heat and considerable power consumption all add up to a notebook with a large cooling solution, which in turn leads to a bigger and heavier notebook. High-end cards are most often found in a 17" form factor. Battery life, as you probably already concluded, is poor indeed.

What games can I play on these?

Everything and anything at maximum settings. However, the Go7800 and X1800 series are a huge improvement in performance over the older Go6800- and X800-class cards. Go for one of those. The newest high-end card is the Nvidia GeForce Go7900 series. The Go7900GS is just under the Go7800GTX, about 12% slower according to 3DMark06 benchmarks. The GeForce Go7900GTX on the other hand is substantially faster than the Go7800GTX, which it replaced. It also runs cooler. You can think of it as basically a tweaked and refined Go7800GTX.

Other information regarding video cards:


Windows Vista

Many of you out there are interested in upgrading to Microsoft's next-generation operating system when it is released later this year. You are probably aware by now that it will have a 3D-based interface, which relies on your graphics card. It is recommended that you have a 64MB DirectX 9 GPU in order to run the "Aero Glass" 3D interface. The Radeon Xpress 200M is your best bet for an integrated card if you plan to run Windows Vista; Intel's GMA950 will also run it, see here. The GMA900 cannot run the Aero Glass interface. Any of the above dedicated cards [Parts 2-5] can run the Aero Glass interface. But remember, even if you don't meet the requirements for the Aero Glass, Windows Vista will still be able to run fine, just with the 3D settings scaled lower or off.

Video Memory

A very common question when referring to gaming concerns the amount of video memory you need. Today's games have been requiring 64MB video cards for quite a while.
Basic explanation: Video memory is important because the video card needs a place to store all the information about the 3D environment in a game - if it doesn't have enough room to store it all, the card will not be able to render a scene as quickly becaues the card will have to keep swapping in and out information to the memory. This becomes especially limiting at higher resolutions.

The minimum that I would recommend for gaming today is AT LEAST 128MB card. Gamers should be comfortable with 128MB cards with most games. However, if you are a hardcore gamer and plan on doing a lot of intensive gaming, especially with higher-end and more modern games, it is best to have a 256MB card. This will also help 'future-proof' your notebook for next-generation games, since they will be more complex and advanced, and thus need to store more information. Cards equipped with 256MB of video memory are better able to play at higher resolutions and settings. Gaming at higher resolutions uses more video memory because the 3D environment is much larger, and therefore requires a larger memory space. Do not buy acomputer with a 64MB graphics card if you plan to play games.




There is one more factor that goes along with video memory - the GPU itself. Some GPU's, although they have a lot of memory [example: 256MB X600] cannot use it all because they are not fast enough to do so.


Cards in the performance class and above can use more than 128MB of memory effectively, but not 256MB. Very few cards can. If you can get a 256MB version of those cards (X700/Go6600 and up), then go for it by all means. It helps for reasons I stated above about video memory. They will be great for gaming.

What I mean by using the memory 'effectively' is that the card will perform better if it has more memory - some cards will have performance benefits if you have 256MB of memory versus 128MB, some won't.

However, cards in the Mainstream range aren't even fast enough to use 128MB of memory effectively, so if you are getting one of those cards, it doesn't matter if they are 128MB or 256MB.

To clear up confusion, a midrange card will not outperform a higher-end card with more video memory (ex: 128MB X700 is faster than 256MB X1400/Go7400).

Another point - a high-end CPU won't make up for a weak card. If you have integrated graphics, it doesn't matter if you have a top-of-the-line AMD Athlon processor paired to it, that won't help your 3D performance enough to make a difference. For games, 95% of the power for the games comes from the graphics card.

So basically, if you're looking for a gaming computer, the GPU (graphics card) should be your top priority.

Conclusion:
Overall, I hoped this guide has helped clear up some common and more advanced questions regarding 3D graphics in a notebook. Please make sure any questions you ask here in the Gaming/Graphics forum aren't already answered in this guide.

Useful Links:
ATI Mobile Cards
Nvidia Mobile Cards

Thanks for your time and reading all the way to the bottom!

18. Do-It-Yourself: Making An External Hard Drive Guide

From NotebookReview
By: gilo

If you're looking for some extra external storage for your notebook you could go out and buy a ready made USB or FireWire external 100GB hard drive for around $200, or you could more cheaply and quite easily make your own portable external hard drive by buying an enclosure and "naked" hard drive and slapping them together for around $100. Furthermore, instead of chucking away that old 40GB notebook hard drive you just upgraded you can read this guide and see how to easily use it as an external hard drive for data backup.

My 2.5 Cents Inch External Hard Drive DIY

If you need an external hard drive for extra storage, why buy one "ready made" when you can easily make it yourself for much cheaper? Or why throw away that 40GB notebook hard drive that you just replaced with a faster 100GB 7200RPM drive?

Recently I was in need of a bigger external drive. I had seen a Seagate came out with their own branded "Portable External Hard Drive" and thought, why not try to match the performance and capacity of the Seagate "ready made" drive with a DIY style and see if it's worth it.

The Benchmark

The Seagate 120GB external portable hard drive reviewed here not long ago is a fine external hard drive. It sports a 2.5" 5400 RPM hard drive inside, has a stylish aluminum case with a blue LED light and 1-year warranty. It can be bought for as low as $219 according to our review, but if you look hard you might find it for even cheaper. Either way I will not focus on price only since there are other benefits to building your own drive, nor is this a case study against big name external HD makers such as Seagate.

What you'll need

1. A 2.5" hard drive of your choosing (naked, no enclosure)
2. An enclosure to put the hard drive in and that will connect to your laptop via USB/FireWire and interface with the hard drive.

The hard drive I chose was Samsung SpinPoint 120GB 5400 RPM Bulk to match the Seagate drives size and speed, I bought it at Ewiz.com because they offered the lowest price of $139 (they were kind, helpful and agreed to take my order unlike NewEgg.com who have strict policies), at the time of writing these lines I see Ewiz.com lowered the price of the Samsung drive even more to $127.

For the enclosure I went with a Coolmax HD-211 2.5" USB 2 Aluminum enclosure because I liked how it looked and it is one of the cheapest out there at only $10 (also purchased at Ewiz.com). If you think I'm superficial and cheap, well you are right, but this choice has some logic to it as well -- more about that later.

the enclosure (left) and hard drive (right) ingredients, just mix togther ... DON'T add water! (view large image)

Packing and contents

The Samsung SpinPoint HD came in a static shield bag without much else, the Coolmax enclosure came shrink wrapped with a carrying pouch, 4 mounting screws, 6 case screws, a "Y" type USB cable, a jewelry screw driver and a mini-CD with driver software in case you need that.
.

(view large image)

Coolmax was thoughtful enough to include everything you need with the enclosure you purchase (view large image)

The DIY Part

Calling this a DIY project is somewhat stretching the term, it is as simple as can be. Like adding milk to your cereal (only here you close the milk afterwards and plug it into your notebook)

Step 1: Using the jewelry screwdriver, unscrew the 2 enclosure screws in the back panel of the enclosure and remove the back panel.

Step 2: Slide out the PCB (Printed Circuit Board), on which your hard drive will be mounted.

Step 3: Attach the Hard Drive to the 44-pin connector of the PCB.

the HD attached to the connector (view large image)

Step 4: Fix the Hard Drive in place with the 4 mounting screws on the underside.

the mounting screws in place (view large image)

Step 5: Slide the Hard Drive that is now attached to the PCB back into the enclosure and fix the back panel back in place and put the two screws back in tightly.

That's all there is to it! Any enclosure will provide instructions and may of course differ a bit, but will never be much more complicated than this -- and possibly even easier.

Assuming you have Windows XP you don't need to install any of the drivers that were included on the mini CD. If you want to initialize and partition the a new hard drive, use Windows XP built-in Disk Management. There are a few ways to get to that, the quickest is by typing clicking Start > Run and type in "diskmgmt.msc". The Windows Disk Management snap-in will open.

the Coolmax with its red and green leds (view large image)

I have two important tips to add to these steps above:

1. First make sure you have a clean tidy surface to work on, those screws are awfully small and will go missing in the blink of an eye. The good news is the provided screw driver is magnetic and Coolmax saw fit to include 2 extra screws just in case you lose a couple.
2. Second, before you start, discharge any static electricity in your body by touching something made of metal and handle the Hard Drive only from the sides. Avoid touching the bottom exposed circuit of a Hard Drive or the exposed circuits of the enclosure.

Price

The total cost of the parts for this DIY external hard drive was $137 as compared to $219 for the Seagate external drive that was reviewed. Currently Newegg.com lists the 100GB version of the Seagate portable external hard drive for $168, so this 120GB DIY solution is still cheaper than even that.

Power & Performance

Even though this is a 120GB drive it will run just fine on a single USB cable power source, however if more power is needed just plug in the RED plug as well. Other enclosures tested with this drive proved a single cable was just fine in those cases too.

Transfer speeds to the hard drive were very good, averaging 18.8 MB/sec with 18.1 ms seek time, not as fast as the Momentus inside the Seagate but good enough for an external USB enclosure. Real life test of copying a typical 700MB file from the notebook to the hard drive took about 30 seconds.

Heat & Noise

The enclosure never got warmer then the equivalent of the normal human body temperature, so it never felt hot. It was also very, very quiet without any clicking (like many Hitachi drives do) or chippering (like many Toshiba drives do), just a very low humming sound.

Warranty

All new 2.5" drives come with at least a 3-year manufacturer's warranty, while the Ewiz.com product page doesn't specify this, the NewEgg.com page has it in writing. So if something happens to the hard drive inside your "DIY drive" you will be covered. And if the enclosure breaks? Well, you just throw it away and buy another one for $10!

The Right HD For You

When I bought the Samsung Spin Point 120GB HD I was afraid that not all enclosures would support it chipset or power consumption wise. I'm quite happy to say I was wrong, even enclosures that specify they only support up to 80GB worked just fine with this drive.

I think any new generation 2.5" large capacity drive (> 100GB) would work flawlessly in almost any enclosure since the specifications are similar across all drives. For evidence I can testify I used Hitachi 7K60 7200 RPM 60GB HD in the same enclosure without any problem . The only reason I chose the Samsung brand really was because it was the cheapest and looked to be very quiet if not the quietest.

Choose Your Enclosure Carefully

The Coolmax was not the only enclosure I tested. The enclosure itself is almost as important as the HD inside. It's interesting to note that many enclosure are just "branded" versions of a generic enclosure made by an ODM (Original Design Manufacturer). It's quite possible two enclosures you see from different brands were actually made by the same original manufacturer and just re-badged with a brand name. If two enclosured from different brands look exactly the same, chances are that it is the same but by a different name.

(left to right) Coolmax, Hotdrive, Sweex are just brand name versions of ODM enclosures (view large image)

I'd go with an enclosure that has mounting screws that secure the Hard Drive tightly like the Coolmax does, it seems more solid than the suspended by pins only approach of the Bytecc Hotdrive 2.5" enclosure I tested (cost of $17). Some users might find the lack of mounting screws a plus if they intend to swap the Hard Drive inside the enclosure quite often, in that case the highly respected Thermaltake Silver Muse is good because it opens up like a box with a hinge and has foam padding to hold the HD in place.

The Coolmax (left) holds the HD secure with 4 mounting screws while the Hotdrive uses pins (view large image)

On the down side for the Coolmax enclosure, the enclosure thickness is only half of the Bytecc Hotdrive one. Not that the Coolmax is flimsy or anything, but I would prefer the thicker enclosure for more protection.

The Hotdrive (below) case is thicker than the CoolMax (on top) (view large image)

The carrying case you get with the enclosure is also an important factor to consider, they range from thin pouch that is designed to prevent scratches only to thick book cover like protection. If you think you'll need a carrying case for your hard drive I recommend choosing an enclosure that comes with a case and one that fits your needs .

Same enclosures as viewed above but inside their provided carrying cases (Coolmax, Hotdrive, Sweex) (view large image)

I also think the looks factor is somewhat important because all enclosures seem to work pretty much the same. I often choose an enclosure at least partly based on style & accessories included, the Sweex enclosure is an example of that, I bought it because it offered a screws implementation for mounting the HD and it had a brushed aluminum case which is very stylish and nice to touch.

Conclusion

The "DIY" option for creating a portable external storage solution is the way to go when in need of an external HD. Also, the next time Toshiba or Dell tries to overcharge you $300 for a HD upgrade when configuring your laptop, just get the cheapest 40GB hard drive they offer. Then use the money you save to buy the hard drive you actually want from a cheaper source (say a 100GB 7200RPM drive from NewEgg.com), then when you get the laptop swap out the 2.5" 40GB you configured with a fast hard drive you really wanted insde the laptop, then take put the 40GB crappy driveyou were forced to configure in the laptop into a $10 - $30 drive enclosure of your choice. And of course feel free to send me any money you save by taking this DIY route!

Pros (For building Your Own External Hard Drive)

• More gigabytes of storage for your dollar
• Better warranty on the hard drive when you buy it without an enclosure, usually at least 3-years
• You can choose the style of the enclosure you want

Cons (For Building Your Own External Hard Drive)

• Must have opposable thumb and be willing to turn a screwdriver

Some places to shop for Hard Drives and Enclosures are:

• www.NewEgg.com
• www.Ewiz.com
• www.Amazon.com
• www.BestBuy.com
• www.CompUSA.com

7. Microsoft Windows Vista Editions and Costs

Here is an updated list. Windows Vista will come in 5 different versions; not 7 as was announced before. Edited 12/2/06: added price for full packaged product as well as price for upgrading and also new Windows Vista: Starter


Each version of Windows Vista is designed and focused upon the needs of a specific type of person. The different versions of Vista were aligned with specific types of PC hardware instead of with the different ways that people use their PCs. An example of this is Windows XP Professional Tablet PC Edition is designed for mobile PCs and supports handwriting recognition. Windows XP Media Center Edition serves as a hub for your home entertainment system. And Windows XP Professional x64 Edition enables the use of cutting-edge 64-bit processors. But what if you're looking for a single operating system that can connect to your TV, run on a mobile PC that supports handwriting recognition, serve as the hub of your home entertainment system, and take advantage of 64-bit performance and security? With Windows XP there is no offering that gives you this much flexibility.

The five different editions of Windows Vista are designed to fit the way you intend to use your PC:

Windows Vista Business
Regardless of the size of your organization, Windows Vista Business will help you lower your PC management costs, improve your security, enhance your productivity, and help you stay better connected.

The Windows Vista Business operating system is designed to meet the needs of business organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and more securely so you will be less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides dramatic new infrastructure improvements, enabling your IT staff to spend less time focused on the day-to-day maintenance of PCs and more time adding strategic value to your organization. Windows Vista Business also offers powerful new ways to organize, find, and share information while staying better connected whether you are in the office or on the road. This helps your business to run more efficiently than ever before.

More manageable, reliable, and secure

For small businesses, Windows Vista Business includes new technology and tools to ensure your PCs are always up-to-date, more secure, and running smoothly. For instance, Windows Vista Business will make your PCs safer with built-in protection against malicious software, or malware. You will be warned of impending hardware failures long before you risk losing any important business data. An array of sophisticated new backup technologies helps protect your information even in the event of a catastrophic hardware failure.

For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business has been designed from the ground up to improve the deployment and management of the operating system. For instance, image-based installation is now the default method for installing the Windows Vista operating system, and the images are no longer hardware-dependent. These two key design principles enable your organization to dramatically reduce the number of images you are required to manage and streamline the process of deploying new PCs and updating existing PCs.

For businesses of any size, Windows Vista Business is designed to allow your IT department to configure users' systems so that they can log onto their PCs as standard users instead of as administrators. Windows Vista Business enables the use of standard user accounts without the compatibility and usability issues that could occur in previous versions of Windows. This new capability significantly reduces the likelihood of a malicious attack causing damage to your organization's PCs.

Easier, faster access to information

Windows Vista Business has a new user interface, named Windows Aero™, which is designed to deliver new levels of efficiency for any business user. This new interface makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents.

In addition to these navigation improvements, Windows Vista Business makes it easier than ever to manage huge volumes of business documents. By integrating search throughout the operating system and providing new ways to organize files, Windows Vista Business helps you quickly find exactly what you are looking for.

For those who are not full-time IT professionals but have roles that require them to support their organizations' PCs, Windows Vista Business includes Small Business Resources. This built-in how-to guide leads you through everyday tasks and troubleshooting in easy-to-follow, non-technical language.

More mobile and better connected

Windows Vista Business is designed to help you easily and quickly connect with your organization, your customers, and your partners, whether you are in the office or on the road. Windows Vista Business includes all of the essential infrastructure required to more securely connect you to your business information whether you are sitting at your desk, working at home, connected to a WiFi hotspot, or even if you are using your cell phone to connect to the Internet.

To help you be more productive when you are away from your desk, Windows Vista Business includes Tablet PC technology that lets you interact with your Tablet PC-compatible computer using a digital pen or your fingertip instead of a keyboard. The new Tablet PC features in Windows Vista Business include improved handwriting recognition and simpler ways to navigate through documents and applications without a keyboard.

Computers that include Windows Vista Business and an auxiliary Windows SideShow™ display will also allow you to access critical business information even when your computer is turned off. Windows Vista Business also makes it easy for you to share documents and collaborate with colleagues, partners, and customers—even if a network is not available. Additionally, Windows Vista Business helps you get the most out of your portable PC by making it quick and easy to manage key mobility settings.

Regardless of whether your organization is big or small, Windows Vista Business will help you lower your PC management costs, improve your security, enhance your productivity, and stay better connected than ever before.

Suggested retail price for full package product, $299.00 USD. Suggested upgrade retail price, $199.00 USD.

Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to meet the needs of large global organizations with highly complex IT infrastructures. Windows Vista Enterprise can help you lower your IT costs while providing additional layers of protection for your sensitive data.

To better address the needs of large, global organizations and those with highly complex IT infrastructures, Microsoft will introduce a new version of Windows—Windows Vista Enterprise—designed to significantly lower IT costs and risk. In addition to all of the features available in Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to provide higher levels of data protection using hardware-based encryption technology. It also includes tools to improve application compatibility and enables organizations to standardize by using a single worldwide deployment image. Windows Vista Enterprise will only be available to customers who have PCs covered by Microsoft Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.

Data protection

Windows Vista Enterprise includes Windows BitLocker™ Drive Encryption, a new technology which helps prevent sensitive data and intellectual property from falling into the wrong hands if a computer is lost or stolen. Windows BitLocker uses hardware-based data encryption technology that gives you greater peace of mind knowing that your corporate intellectual property is safer and will remain your strategic asset. Also, since the entire hard drive is encrypted, Windows BitLocker reduces the cost associated with decommissioning old PCs.

Application compatibility

Windows Vista Enterprise includes built-in tools to improve application compatibility with previous versions of Microsoft operating systems, as well as with UNIX operating systems. A feature of Windows Vista Enterprise, Virtual PC Express enables you to run—unchanged—a legacy application on a legacy Windows operating system in a virtual environment on top of Windows Vista Enterprise. This feature saves you time and money if you are unable to easily migrate a legacy application directly to Windows Vista.

Additionally, Windows Vista Enterprise includes Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA), which enables you to run UNIX applications unchanged on a Windows Vista Enterprise-based PC. Whereas today a UNIX database administrator or system administrator needs to have a UNIX workstation in addition to a Windows-based PC, Windows Vista Enterprise enables you to consolidate both functions into a single Windows Vista-based PC.

Multi-language support

An interface language controls which language a user sees in the Windows Start menu, in the help system, in built-in management tools, and in Windows dialog boxes. Windows Vista Enterprise includes all available interface languages in one offering. Access to all worldwide Windows interface languages enables organizations to build a single deployment image that can be used worldwide and to deploy individual PCs that simultaneously offer different interface languages for different users.

Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to meet the needs of large global organizations and those with highly complex IT infrastructures. If your organization has these requirements, Windows Vista Enterprise will help you lower your IT costs and will provide additional layers of protection for your sensitive data.

The Windows Vista Enterprise edition is only available to Microsoft Volume License customers, it is not available for retail purchase.

Windows Vista Home Premium
Whether you choose to use your PC to write e-mail and surf the Internet, for home entertainment, or to track your household expenses, Windows Vista Home Premium delivers a more complete and satisfying computing experience.

Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for homes with advanced computer needs. It will help you use your laptop or desktop PC more effectively as well as enable you to enjoy new, exciting digital entertainment experiences—all with the benefit of added security and reliability.

New user interface

Windows Vista Home Premium has a new user interface named Windows Aero™, which is both efficient and beautiful. This new interface makes it easier than ever before to find your way around the operating system. It even makes it easier to accomplish multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all of your open applications and documents. Additionally, Windows Vista Home Premium helps you quickly find and organize large collections of documents, pictures, movies, videos, and music. By integrating search throughout the operating system, Windows Vista Home Premium helps you quickly find exactly what you are looking for.

Improved mobility

Windows Vista Home Premium makes it easy to take your home computing experience with you wherever you go. For example, Windows Vista Home Premium includes Tablet PC technology that enables you to interact with your Tablet PC-compatible computer with a digital pen or with your fingertip instead of having to use a keyboard. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow™ display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect to your favorite WiFi hotspot.

More entertaining

Windows Vista Home Premium will improve every aspect of your digital entertainment experiences including viewing and sharing photos, video, TV, movies, music, games, and more. For example, Windows Vista Home Premium enables you to create your own DVDs and edit your own high-definition movies. Most significantly, Windows Vista Home Premium includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. Windows Media Center in Windows Vista provides new ways for you to enjoy your music, photos, and DVD movies. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. You will also be able to connect Windows Vista Home Premium to your Microsoft Xbox 360 to extend your Media Center experience to multiple rooms in your home.

Whatever you choose to do with your home PC, Windows Vista Home Premium will deliver a more complete and satisfying computing experience.

Suggested retail price for full package product, $239.00 USD. Suggested upgrade retail price, $159.00 USD.

Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Basic is designed to deliver improved reliability, security, and usability to home PC users who just want to do the basics with their PCs.

Windows Vista Home Basic is the operating system for homes with basic computing needs. It is easy to set up, it helps you use your PC more securely and reliably, and like all of the editions of Windows Vista, it is compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services that you use and trust. If you simply want to use your PC for tasks such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with friends and family using e-mail, or performing basic document creation and editing tasks, then Windows Vista Home Basic will deliver a safer, more reliable, and more productive computing environment.

Safer and more reliable

Windows Vista is designed to be the safest operating system that Microsoft has ever delivered. Every edition of Windows Vista, including Windows Vista Home Basic, provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. Additionally, all Windows Vista editions will include new parental control features that will allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities on your PC that might concern you as a parent. Windows Vista Home Basic is designed so that you and your family can focus on what's most important to you and spend less time worrying about your safety.

Easier to set up and use

As with all of other editions of Windows Vista, Windows Vista Home Basic makes your PC significantly easier to use. Windows Vista Home Basic has new tools to help you painlessly move your personal files and settings from your old PC to your new Windows Vista-based PC. Additionally, Windows Vista Home Basic integrates new search tools throughout the operating system to help you quickly find the precise file or program you need.

Windows Vista Home Basic contains all of the basic features to make your computing experience easier, safer, and more reliable. Even if your existing PC seems to be adequate for basic tasks such as reading e-mail and browsing the web, by upgrading your PC to Windows Vista Home Basic or by purchasing a new PC installed with Windows Vista Home Basic, you will benefit from a better computing experience and more peace of mind.

Windows Vista Home Basic is the edition of Windows for users with the most basic computing needs. The features in Windows Vista Home Basic also form the foundation of all of the other editions of Windows Vista, including Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate.

Suggested retail price for full package product, $199.00 USD. Suggested upgrade retail price, $99.95 USD.

Windows Vista Ultimate
If you want all of the best business features, all of the best mobility features, and all of the best home entertainment features that Windows Vista has to offer, Windows Vista Ultimate is the solution for you. With Windows Vista Ultimate you don't have to compromise.

Windows Vista Ultimate is the most comprehensive edition of Windows Vista. It is the first operating system that combines all of the advanced infrastructure features of a business-focused operating system, all of the management and efficiency features of a mobility-focused operating system, and all of the digital entertainment features of a consumer-focused operating system. For the person who wants one operating system that is great for working from home, working on the road, and for entertainment, Windows Vista Ultimate is the operating system that lets you have it all.

Work from home

Windows Vista Ultimate includes all of the features that make it easy to remotely connect to business networks. So when you're working from home, you'll have advanced networking capabilities, such as the ability to join a domain, support for Group Policy, and features such as Remote Desktop. Windows Vista Ultimate also includes Windows BitLocker™ Drive Encryption that provides new levels of protection against theft for your important business data whether you are at home, on the road, or in the office.

The latest in entertainment

Windows Vista Ultimate delivers all of the entertainment features available in Windows Vista Home Premium. It includes everything you need to enjoy the latest in digital photography, music, movies, analog TV, or even HDTV. Windows Vista Ultimate has great tools such as Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker to ensure that you have everything you need to collect, manage, and edit your digital content. It also includes Windows Media Center for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center.

No compromises

Windows Vista Ultimate delivers all of the features available to both business users and home users. It is the ideal solution for a small-business owner who wants a single PC that he or she can use at the office, on the road, and at home. It is also the ideal solution for someone who wants a home PC that will be used primarily for entertainment purposes but that can also be used for business purposes such as connecting to a corporate network.

If you want all of the best business features, all of the best mobility features, and all of the best home entertainment features, Windows Vista Ultimate is the solution for you. With Windows Vista Ultimate, you don't have to compromise.

Suggested retail price for full package product, $399.00 USD. Suggested upgrade retail price, $259.00 USD.

Windows Vista Starter
Available in 119 emerging markets, Windows Vista Starter provides individuals and families with the basic benefits of Windows Vista at an affordable price. Designed for first-time PC users, Windows Vista Starter is easy to learn and includes help features tailored to beginner users.

Basic computing at an affordable price

Maintaining the goal of making technology accessible to customers in emerging markets, Windows Vista Starter offers a basic set of features targeted to beginner users at a price that fits their budget. Windows Vista Starter will be available* at an affordable price from OEM and system builder partners, and through government-sponsored programs.

Intuitive and easy to use

Windows Vista Starter includes more help features for first-time PC users. With localized and customized support, step-by-step guidance, and interactive video demonstrations to help perform the most popular tasks, Windows Vista Starter makes it easy to use a PC—in any language.

Reliable and secure

Windows Vista Starter includes even more security and reliability than previous versions. And like all editions of Windows Vista, Windows Vista Starter is compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services.

*Note: Windows Vista Starter is not currently scheduled to be available in the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, or other high income markets as defined by the World Bank.

8. Windows Vista Capable and Premium Ready PCs

This information is taken from Microsoft's Windows Vista Information that was released on their Vista website. Here

Choose a Windows Vista Capable or Premium Ready PC for the Windows Vista edition that's right for you.

Are you looking to buy a Windows XP-based computer today but want to make sure that it can run Windows Vista? There's no need to wait. When you buy a new PC that carries the Windows Vista Capable or Premium Ready PC designation, you’ll be able to upgrade to one of the editions of Windows Vista while taking advantage of all the opportunities offered by Windows XP today.

What is a Windows Vista Capable PC?

A new PC that carries the Windows Vista Capable PC logo can run Windows Vista. All editions of Windows Vista will deliver core experiences such as innovations in organizing and finding information, security, and reliability. All Windows Vista Capable PCs will run these core experiences at a minimum. Some features available in the premium editions of Windows Vista—like the new Windows Aero user experience—may require advanced or additional hardware.

A Windows Vista Capable PC includes at least:

• A modern processor (at least 800MHz¹).
• 512 MB of system memory.
• A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.

Windows Vista Premium Ready PCs
To get an even better Windows Vista experience, including the Windows Aero user experience, ask for a Windows Vista Capable PC that is designated Premium Ready, or choose a PC that meets or exceeds the Premium Ready requirements described below. Features available in specific premium editions of Windows Vista, such as the ability to watch and record live TV, may require additional hardware.

A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor¹.
• 1 GB of system memory.
• A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero².
• 128 MB of graphics memory.
• 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
• DVD-ROM Drive³.
• Audio output capability.
• Internet access capability.

Read all of the Windows Vista Capable footnotes.

Review the Windows Vista minimum supported system requirements.

Windows Marketplace has a selection of Windows Vista Capable and Premium Ready PCs that are available today.

Windows Vista enterprise hardware planning guidance is available on TechNet.

Can the Windows Vista experience vary on different PCs?

Yes. Windows Vista is the first Windows operating system with a user experience that adapts to take advantage of the capabilities of the hardware on which it is installed.

All Windows Vista Capable PCs will be able to run at least the core experiences of Windows Vista.

All Windows Vista Premium Ready PCs can deliver even better Windows Vista experiences, including the new Windows Aero user experience.

Does buying a Windows Vista Capable PC mean that I will receive a free upgrade to Windows Vista?

No. A PC that is Windows Vista Capable or Premium Ready means that the PC is ready for an upgrade from Windows XP. You would still need to purchase the edition of Windows Vista that you want to install on your Windows Vista Capable or Premium Ready PC.