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Nokia Enters Netbook Market

Nokia Enters Netbook Market

Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 24th Aug 2009 18:44 UTC

In what can surely be called a surprise move, Nokia has announced that it will enter the netbook market with an Atom-based netbook which will ship with Windows 7. While many of the components appear relatively normal compared to other netbooks, it does come with a few features that will set the device apart from the rest. Instant update: Ars believes this is the first Intel Pine Trail netbook.

RAM

RAM: Random Access Memory

SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)

Almost all systems used to ship with 3.3 volt, 168-pin SDRAM DIMMs. SDRAM is not an extension of older EDO DRAM but a new type of DRAM altogether. SDRAM started out running at 66 MHz, while older fast page mode DRAM and EDO max out at 50 MHz. SDRAM is able to scale to 133 MHz (PC133) officially, and unofficially up to 180MHz or higher. As processors get faster, new generations of memory such as DDR and RDRAM are required to get proper performance.

DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM)
DDR basically doubles the rate of data transfer of standard SDRAM by transferring data on the up and down tick of a clock cycle. DDR memory operating at 333MHz actually operates at 166MHz * 2 (aka PC333 / PC2700) or 133MHz*2 (PC266 / PC2100). DDR is a 2.5 volt technology that uses 184 pins in its DIMMs. It is incompatible with SDRAM physically, but uses a similar parallel bus, making it easier to implement than RDRAM, which is a different technology.

Rambus DRAM (RDRAM)
Despite it's higher price, Intel has given RDRAM it's blessing for the consumer market, and it will be the sole choice of memory for Intel's Pentium 4. RDRAM is a serial memory technology that arrived in three flavors, PC600, PC700, and PC800. PC800 RDRAM has double the maximum throughput of old PC100 SDRAM, but a higher latency. RDRAM designs with multiple channels, such as those in Pentium 4 motherboards, are currently at the top of the heap in memory throughput, especially when paired with PC1066 RDRAM memory.

DIMMs vs. RIMMs
DRAM comes in two major form factors: DIMMs and RIMMS.

DIMMs are 64-bit components, but if used in a motherboard with a dual-channel configuration (like with an Nvidia nForce chipset) you must pair them to get maximum performance. So far there aren't many DDR chipset that use dual-channels. Typically, if you want to add 512 MB of DIMM memory to your machine, you just pop in a 512 MB DIMM if you've got an available slot. DIMMs for SDRAM and DDR are different, and not physically compatible. SDRAM DIMMs have 168-pins and run at 3.3 volts, while DDR DIMMs have 184-pins and run at 2.5 volts.

RIMMs use only a 16-bit interface but run at higher speeds than DDR. To get maximum performance, Intel RDRAM chipsets require the use of RIMMs in pairs over a dual-channel 32-bit interface. You have to plan more when upgrading and purchasing RDRAM.

From the top: SIMM, DIMM and SODIMM memory modules

Memory Speed
SDRAM initially shipped at a speed of 66MHz. As memory buses got faster, it was pumped up to 100MHz, and then 133MHz. The speed grades are referred to as PC66 (unofficially), PC100 and PC133 SDRAM respectively. Some manufacturers are shipping a PC150 speed grade. However, this is an unofficial speed rating, and of little use unless you plan to overclock your system.

DDR comes in PC1600, PC2100, PC2700 and PC3200 DIMMs. A PC1600 DIMM is made up of PC200 DDR chips, while a PC2100 DIMM is made up of PC266 chips. PC2700 uses PC333 DDR chips and PC3200 uses PC400 chips that haven't gained widespread support. Go for PC2700 DDR. It is about the cost of PC2100 memory and will give you better performance.

RDRAM comes in PC600, PC700, PC800 and PC1066 speeds. Go for PC1066 RDRAM if you can find it. If you can't, PC800 RDRAM is widely available.

Older memory types
Fast Page Mode DRAM
Fast Page Mode DRAM is plain old DRAM as we once knew it. The problem with standard DRAM was that it maxes out at about 50 MHz.

EDO DRAM
EDO DRAM gave people up to 5% system performance increase over DRAM. EDO DRAM is like FPM DRAM with some cache built into the chip. Like FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM maxes out at about 50 MHz. Early on, some system makers claimed that if you used EDO DRAM you didn't need L2 cache in your computer to get decent performance. They were wrong. It turns out that EDO DRAM works along with L2 cache to make things even faster, but if you lose the L2 cache, you lose a lot of speed.

How Much Computer Memory Do You Need?

The easiest ways to boost performance for any PC is to add memory (RAM) to the system. Before purchasing that memory upgrade, however, remember to verify what type of memory your computer uses, the memory module sizes and what already exists in the system. If you are buying a new system, look for the maximum RAM available.

To give you some idea of RAM requirements, according to a 2009 www.pcstats.com article, Windows Vista Basic requires a minimum of 512MB, though they advise that realistically, that number should be doubled.

No need to spend money on extra RAM that your system cannot utilize. You can easily check the specifications of the system you are considering by asking how much memory is already installed, and what the maximum memory capacity is for the system.

When buying a computer or laptop, the available memory on that system should be a primary consideration, because the more you do, the more memory you need! The applications you use dictate how much memory you need for the best possible performance, the smoothest graphics and the speediest downloads.

RAM is used every time you open an application, download, play a game or video – even turning on your computer requires RAM. Peripherals such as webcams, digital cameras, DVD players and USB harddrives require more RAM. These requirements, coupled with complicated web pages and PC-based video games may surprise you in that you have significantly less RAM than you thought. Therefore, buy the most RAM you can afford; more RAM makes for a speedier computer. Today, available PC systems range from 512MB (which is the bare minimum) to 4GB of memory.

If you already have a computer and are considering a memory upgrade, review the manuals that came with your computer or motherboard. Included in the documentation are the specifications for the memory supported. This is important because it will list exactly the type, size and number of memory modules that are supported.

The Different Computer Problems And The Ways To Avoid Them

Slowing down of processing speed - lack of maintenance
Computers need to be regularly checked and maintained for corrupted registry, spyware, and loading of unnecessary programs that eat much of your pc's memory.

Increasing the running time of your computer may involve cleaning up its registry and managing the programs.

Frozen screens are another annoyance. Imagine doing something important and then the computer suddenly stops responding. While this problem may not be easy to diagnose, spyware or virus may be responsible for this. Updating your anti-spyware software is one way to prevent this problem.

Computer virus protection is another extremely useful feature of most computers. This software detects and eliminates computer viruses that may attack your system. Thus, it prevents possible computer virus induced damage.

If no virus or spyware is found, or if they are checked and fixed, and still your pc unit freezes, then check if you have updated your hardware drives. Another cause may be insufficient memory. Thus, upgrading the RAM is another solution to increase computer power.

On some instances, your pc keeps rebooting repeatedly. This is mainly a hard drive problem. Check the power supply in this case. If the cooling fan of your pc does not work properly, your computer may reboot unexpectedly. Dust accumulation in your unit may cause build up of heat that leads to computer failure.

Other components may be subject to occasional failures. For instance, printers may not print. In this case, check power supply and connections. If it is loosely connected to the unit then that may be the problem. Jammed paper inside the printer may also be a culprit. Check printer settings. In some instances, you may need to install the printer software again.

The bottom line of this is basically maintenance of your computer because this is the way to keep it working properly for long. However, you may quite benefit well with computer disaster recovery to back up files and data so everything is secure during emergency cases.