By: Andrew Gates

The graphics card is a vital performance component of your computer, particularly if you play 3D games, or work with graphics and video content. The graphics card sits in an expansion card slot in your PC and it is specifically designed to process image data and output it to your monitor, enabling you to see it. A graphics card works by calculating how images appear, particularly 3D images, and renders them to the screen. 3D images and video images take a lot of processing capacity, and many graphics processors are complex, require fans to cool them and need direct power supply. The graphics card consists of a graphics processor, a memory chip for graphics operations, and a RAMDAC for display output. It may also include video capture, TV output and SLI and other functions.

Graphics Cards

What are your needs?

The first decision you need to make is whether you need a graphics card for handling 3D images or whether you are simply requiring 2D image rendering. For 2D requirements, you need only a low-cost solution. In many cases, an integrated graphics solution will suffice for 2D applications.

By Larry Andrew

Do you want to get quality software at a reasonable price? Whether you work at home or just need good software for your personal computer, you are faced with an almost endless selection of computer software. Sorting through the options can sometimes be a major task. However, if you want to get good, quality software there are several things that you can do that will save you money and headaches.

With the arrival of online marketing, you have more choices than ever. There are a large number of reputable software companies that sell software at significant savings. With a little homework and thought on your part, you can get good quality software that will accomplish your specific task.

In order to save both time and money on computer software, here is a list of twelve things you should do.

1. First, make sure you know as closely as possible the exact task you want your software to accomplish. The more specific you are the better. For example, do you want a very general word processing program to write occasional letters or a more sophisticated word processing software program to run the marketing for your business?

By: Mike Marinaro

Monitor Cleaning
Your monitor is a delicate piece of equipment so do not just spray any old cleaner on the screen! In fact, don't ever spray anything directly on your monitor screen. Liquid will run down your screen and could get inside and damage the electronics.

It is ok to use Windex but you should spray it onto a paper towel or lint free cloth first, then wipe your monitor. You can also purchase special lint free wipes at office supply and computer stores.

Be sure to turn off your monitor first, this will allow you to see the smudges and dust better. Don't turn your monitor back on again until the screen is dry.

The above method is fine for cleaning a CRT monitor because it has a glass screen; however, do not use Windex on an LCD moitor. LCD monitors have a plastic screen not glass, so it is better to just wipe them clean with a lint free cloth.

Don't Stick That Vacuum Cleaner Hose There!
If you have ever taken the side off of your PC and looked inside you probably were tempted to stick your vacuum cleaner hose in there and suck out all the dust that has accumulated...DON'T DO IT!

Vaccums create static electricity which could fry your delicate electronic components. Your best weapon in the war against dust is a can of compressed air. There is no static electricity and the air is clean and particle free.

Mike Marinaro is a webdesigner and has written many articles on computers and web design.