About Computer Graphic Cards. Which is better Nividia vs Intel HD cards

The main reason for my bringing up this topic is very simple.


I had a situation with friends when one of them installed FIFA 2015 PS game on his HP laptop with the Specifications given below;
Windows 8 OS
500 GB HDD
Core i7 Processor
Intel Board
Nividia Graphic Card
17 inch Display


The game worked perfectly well in the laptop and everyone of us enjoyed playing. the only disadvantage we had was that when this particular guy was not available or is busy with his laptop, it meant no game for us.
We decided to make it easy for ourselves every other person brought their laptops and asked that the game be installed in their own laptops,  to our utmost surprise, the game refused to run on any other system.

we checked and compared specifications and noted that the specifications were even higher than the former but we wondered why the game refused to run.

one thing I noticed was that  all the other laptops were running Intel HD Graphic card but the one running the game had Nividia card.

we concluded that this can be the only explanation.


now what are the issues related to these kinds of graphic cards.

Intel Graphic Card.

 

 

 

 

 

Nividia Graphic Card.

 

 

Intel is mostly known for their processors not the GPU, yet they are making GPUs for a pretty long time now, the intel GMA and later the intel HD Graphics. Usually these are integrated with the motherboard(intel GMA) or in the processor(intel HD), they are not bad but not suitable for  many tasks.

 

 

Nvidia is a well-known manufacturer of GPU and their products are used by gamers all over the world, not only gamers they have handheld gaming devices, super computers and many other products. They have pioneered many advancement in graphics technology and for desktop or laptop usually they provide discrete or high performance solutions. As a manufacturer who's primary selling point is graphics processing unit, they should be better.

 

 

For the past couple years intel HD has come a long way and modern intel HD might even beat the entry level GPUs from nvidia, although nvidia has much much much better GPU than intel's one.

But the main question here is what do you need!

 

Do you want to play modern games at 1080p or higher with decent quality and frame rate?
None of the Intel GPUs can provide you with that, you have to go with either Nvidia or AMD.
Do you want a system where you will just watch movies, browse internet and similar stuffs?
Either Intel or Nvidia's entry level GPU will do the job perfectly and you won't notice that much of a different anyway.

You are using a laptop and want better battery life and gaming is not a requirement?
Go with intel HD, it burns less power than a discrete nvidia or AMD card.

 

 

 

 

Hope this clears up a little bit.   So when next you find out that you cannot run softwares that need high graphic demand, try checking the compatibility or capability of your graphic card.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

I await comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 most common computer problems and solutions

In my line of work I get many calls about the below common problems and if I was to estimate I would say that at least 25% of them could be solved using the list below to troubleshoot the cause. Not only will this get you up and running quicker with a sense of achievement it will also save you the cost of a  technician coming out and charging you to just change a fuse for example. It could be that a cable has been accidentally pulled out or maybe your dog has chewed it all these things are worth checking before calling someone to take a look.

Just because your computer monitor won’t come on or your mouse won’t work does not mean that you have a virus or you need a new computer the solution could be much simpler. If you don’t find the solution here remember these are only very basic checks that all of us can forget to do before panicking about it been a more severe problem. It is not intended to be an advanced guide to computer problems but hopefully it will help before you decide what you need to do next.

Computer will not start

Check all cables are plugged in and switches turned on.
Check monitor is turned on and plugged into the computer.
Change fuse in cable.Check extension if using one.
Try a different known working socket.
Change power lead.
Check no buttons or switches are stuck.

No sound coming from computer

Check that your speakers are on and plugged in
Check that the speaker is connected to the right port (Green to Green)
Check the volume is turned up
Check you don’t have sound muted (icon in taskbar)
Try plugging in ear phones to rule out broken speakers

Monitor screen blank

Check monitor is correctly connected
Check monitor is plugged in and turned on
Check connection to computer is not loose

Computer Boots but wont launch windows

Can you boot into safe mode? (F8 on start-up) if yes the problem is likely to be something software related rather than hardware.
Run malware, virus scans
If you can’t boot into safe mode try booting into your computers repair my computer mode to fix start-up issues
Try using system restore if you can boot to safe mode or recovery to restore to a previous date

Slow internet

Reboot your router and restart your computer (reboot router by unplugging and plugging back in after 5 minutes)
Check for malware and spyware infections.
Check there are no problems with your provider
Check other reasons for slow internet speeds here.

Wireless connection dropping

Reboot both the computer and the router
Change the wireless channel
Move the router to a more central location
Extend your network using powerline adapters
Extend your wireless network with a Wireless N Range Extender
If your aerial is removable replace with a TP-Link TL-ANT2405C 2.4GHz 5dbi Indoor Omni-Directional Antenna or similar to increase range.

Mouse wont work or wont work correctly

Ensure mouse is connected correctly to the back of the computer.
If wireless change mouse batteries.
Ensure mouse is being picked up by receiver (likely a red button on bottom of mouse).
Check that receiver has not fallen out of range.

Keyboard wont work

Check batteries in Keyboard
Check it is connected properly
Ensure it is being picked up by the receiver (red button on bottom)

No internet connection or Local only

Check all connections to router and that they are correctly plugged in
Check none of the cables are damaged
Restart router and restart computer
Check for red lights on the router (indicates there is a problem with the router)
Check all sockets have an ADSL filter connected
Change ADSL filters
Connect router to master phone socket
Check with service provider that your service is not disrupted
Try another router

Computer running very slow or sluggish

Check that no antivirus scans are running
Close some programs if running multiple programs
Malware and virus check
Low memory

Hard Disk Crashes and Troubleshooting

Hard Disk

Hard disk failures are the most common computer hardware problems. And laptop hard disks fail more often than desktop HDs. If you knock hard or drop your laptop even a few inches while it’s working, you may damage the HD.

Symptoms:

·                        The laptop starts as usual but when Windows starts to load it goes to blue screen with either “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME”, “hal.dll is missing or corrupt” or “WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM” (or similar) is missing or corrupt. All these error messages indicate a filesystem problem. Sometimes it can be fixed by just scanning the HD for errors. However in over 50% of the cases these errors indicate that the HD is starting to go bad and is probably developing bad sectors.

·                        The laptop starts as usual but Windows freezes on the initial “Windows XP” screen, although the blue bar continues to move, and you can hear feint but continuous clicking. Hard disk have to be replaced.

·     As soon as the laptop is started there are loud clicks or grinding sounds and Windows doesn’t load. Hard disk have to be replaced.

·                        Shortly after starting the laptop a message appears (usually on a black screen) “SMART test failed. Backup your data immediately and replace the hard disk” or similar. Well, that says it all. S.M.A.R.T. is a self-test that is build into the hard disk.

In almost all cases the laptop can be started from a “live” bootable CD and everything works normal. In rare cases the HDs PCB (printed circuit board) may short or even burn. Then the laptop wouldn’t start unless the HD is removed.

Troubleshooting:

The first case from above (corrupted filesystem) is by far the most common. There are several ways of diagnosing and fixing the corrupted/missing files. If this was just a software problem, the hard disk will continue to work properly. However keep in mind that this may also be a signs of deterioration and backup daily!

Also the hard disk will need some preventive maintenance. Check it for errors every few days or at least every week. To do that you must be logged in an admin account, then right-click the “C” drive in “My Computer”, select “Properties”, then “Tools”, then click on the “Check Now” button. Select both boxes and click on “Start”. Windows will tell you that the hard disk cannot be checked now but you can schedule a check for the next restart. Click “OK” and restart the laptop. The check will take from about 30-40 min. to over 2 hours, so do it when you’re not planning to use the laptop for some time.

making your laptop battery last longer

You can make your laptop run longer on its battery by turning off or reduce all the things that expend power in your computer. If you are going on a long trip, or just taking your laptop to a local coffee shop, use these tips to help your laptop's battery power last longer.

1

Learn to single-task. PC memory that is in-use takes more power to hold data. Also, using more memory might mean using more swap or virtual memory space on your laptop's hard drive. All of this puts an additional drain on your laptop's battery. Instead of leaving multiple applications and windows open, use only what you need at any given time. If your laptop has plenty of memory, then keep multiple applications open to avoid loading repeatedly from the hard drive. Close all the applications that run in the background on your computer like your PDA syncing software or USB hard drive backup software.

2

Run simple applications that don't use much RAM, disk drive or processing power. Use a basic text editor rather than the processor and RAM heavy Microsoft Word. Heavy applications like games or movie watching are especially hard on the battery.

3

Disable Bluetooth. If you don't use this device, you can safely disable it to avoid draining your laptop's battery.

4

Shut down or hibernate the laptop rather than using standby, if you plan on not using it for a while. Standby continues to drain energy to keep your laptop ready to go when you open the cover.

5

Turn off unused ports. Disabling unused ports and components, such as VGA, Ethernet, PCMCIA, USB, and yes, your wireless, too. You can do this through the Device Manager or by configuring a separate hardware profile (see next step).

6

Create Power-Saving Hardware Profiles. Configure your laptop for the various scenarios in which you use it (on a plane, at the coffee shop, at the office, and so on). You can do this through the Hardware Profiles menu by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Preferences or by using a freeware utility such as SparkleXP.

7

Defrag your hard drive. The more fragmented your hard drive is the more your hard disk needs to work.

Part 2

1

Reduce the LCD's brightness level. If you use your laptop in a well lit area or outdoors on a sunny day, try setting it at two or three bars.

                 

Turn down the screen resolution. The method for doing this will depend on your laptop make.

·              Right click on the desktop in Windows 7. Select the Screen Resolution. Turn down the resolution.

2

If your laptop has an OLED based display, avoid displaying white images.OLED screens consume a lot less power displaying blank.

Part 3

1

Turn the volume level down, or mute it, if you do not plan to use it.

Part 4

1

Avoid extreme temperatures. Batteries rely on basic chemistry and will die faster at extreme temperatures. Try to charge and use the battery at room temperatures.

2

Use a cooling pad when using a notebook computer on your lap. But if it's a USB pad then don't use it as it will most likely use up more battery rather than to conserve it.

3

Avoid propping your laptop on a pillow, blanket, or other soft surface that can heat up.

Part 5 

1

Unplug external devices such as a USB mouse or an external drive.

2

Avoid using a CD or DVD. If you store a copy of data you need on an optical disc, copy it to your laptop's hard drive or a thumb drive before traveling. Optical drives consume large amounts of power to spin up CDs and DVDs. Try to avoid applications that keep your hard drive or optical drive spinning. Need to play music? Try to use your handheld MP3 player, rather than playing songs on your computer. Playing songs on your computer will keep the hard drive working which uses energy. Turn off the auto save feature on MS Word or Excel. Constant saving will keep your hard drive turning and using energy.

3

Eject external devices such as pen drives, DVDs, hard disks, etc., if not in use.

Part 6

Clean the battery contacts. Clean the battery's metal contacts with rubbing alcohol on a damp cloth. Clean contacts increase the energy efficiency.

Part 7                

1. Keep the battery fresh. Batteries leak power if they aren't used fairly soon after charging. If you use your "full" battery 2 weeks after you last charged it, you may discover it is empty.                     

2. Do not charge all of the way. Instead of charging the battery to 100% each time, fix the maximum charge limit to 80-85%. This will help in the long run by reducing the battery degradation with time. Sony VAIO has inbuilt option to set this.

               Warnings

o  If you use your computer for too long, it could overheat and slowly damage components, shortening their lifespan.

o Be careful when charging your battery. Never hook it up to charge it when you're not around. With the plethora of battery recalls due to exploding and combustible Li-Ion cells, the process of charging your laptop's battery shouldn't be taken lightly.

o Be careful when cleaning the contacts. Always clean them when the battery is fully drained, and use a very slightly damp cloth, so as to avoid electric shock and short-circuits.

o   If you are working on the Internet and using the laptop, do not turn anything off or you will lose your work.

Virus! My files turned into shortcuts (Solved)

Virus! My files turned into shortcuts (Solved)……..Qplus John

For further assistance, please mail your comments and questions to qplusj@gmail.com

Lots of people are having the same problem with a damn virus. It spreads via USB memory sticks or external hard drives, and “converts” all the files into shortcuts.  Fortunately the real files are still there, but you are unable to see them. We will fix the problem in four simple steps.

Step One

Windows has the bad habit of hiding certain files and their extensions. This may help novice users to avoid confusing them, but presents serious drawbacks. You may, for example, run a dangerous program called  “photo.jpg.exe” because you only saw the “photo.jpg” portion of the name.
For that reason, and also to help fighting this memory stick infection, you need to make all files visible. The following steps apply for Windows XP, Vista and 7.

1. Click on Start
2. Click on Control Panel
3. Pick Folder Options
4. >Click on “View” tab
5. Clear the following check boxes:
6. Clear the check box “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)”
7. Clear the check box “Hide extensions for known file types”

Click Accept to apply the changes

Step Two

We need to make sure that your computer is clean from the infection.
If a healthy USB memory remains clean after plugging it in, this means your computer is clean and you can jump directly to step three.
If a healthy USB stick gets corrupted after being used on your computer, that a sign that the virus is running on your system and your antivirus is not doing it’s job. Use the update function  your Antivirus. If the antivirus still fails to catch the infection even after the update, you definitely need to use another product.
Some users are reporting that their current Antivirus brand was unable to detect and eliminate the infection. I like the products from Avira, Kaspersky and Dr.WEB. The first one offers a Free version, the others offer 30 day trials. But please STOP: Before start uninstalling and installing things, follow this whole guide in order to test if your current Antivirus get rid of the infection. Also to avoid incompatibilities and system problems Do NOT install more than one (1) antivirus program on a single computer.

Some users are reporting that no matter what antivirus they used, the virus kept running. For those still having issues:

• Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del)
• Go to the Processes tab
• Look for WSCRIPT.EXE that is currently running.

But wait! Before ending the process, right click on the virus name and pick “Open  File Location”. After the Windows Explorer tab pops up, you can end the process.

Let’s go to our new Explorer Window. When you try to delete the virus executable file, an error will occur.

Don’t panic, this is normal. As strange as it sounds, we need to take ownership of the file. Right click on the file and select “Properties”

Now on the dialog box that appears:

• Pick “Security” and then “Advanced”
• On the new dialogue box, pick “Owner”
• In the example screenshot you will see that the virus changed the Current Owner to “TrustedInstaller”. So, from the list called “Change Owner to:” pick your Administrator name and click OK.

Now  that you own the virus, let’s go back to the beginning

• Again, Right click on the virus file
• Pick “Properties”
• and again “Security”.
• But this time, on the dialog that pops-up click on “Edit”

You will not be able to delete the file, but don’t worry. The computer will not be able to run this virus executable file.

Step Three

If step one and two went great, you should be able to see your files again. Unfortunately they are still marked as “hidden” (hence the ghostly look of the icons). We are going to fix that in a moment, but first we are going to delete these crappy shortcuts that were created by the virus and have nothing to do with your real files.
Proceed to delete the shortcuts, the Autorun.inf, any .vbs or .exe file, in fact delete everything you don’t recognize as yours.!
Needless to say, be careful, do not delete your legit files.

Step Four (Last one!)

To permanently change the properties of your files and return their appareance back to normal we need to open the Command Prompt.On Windows Vista and 7:

• Click on Start
• Type cmd in the first box you see
• Press ENTER

On Windows XP:

• Click on Start
• Click on Run
• Type cmd
• Press ENTER

On the black Window that appears -technically called the Command prompt- write the commands shown on the picture. Don’t forget to replace the letter X with the letter of your infected drive.
For example, if your affected drive letter is F then the command should be attrib -h -r -s /s /d F:\*.*
After writing the command hit enter and wait a few seconds while the changes are made.

Done!

Go back to the file explorer and see if the file attributes are back to normal.

How To Save a Laptop from Liquid Damage

If you have spilled your lacasera, water, coffee, tea, wine, alomo, beer,  milk or juice on your laptop, things can happen. Follow the steps below to save your laptop from damage by a liquid.

1. Turn the laptop off. Immediately remove the AC adapter and the battery. If the liquid touches the circuits on the laptop, then it will short out.

  2.Unplug all peripherals such as mice, modem, and wireless cards.

3

Turn it upside down immediately. The liquid will stop going deeper into the laptop.

4

Clean the spilled liquid. Use a lint-free paper towel or cloth to clean.

5 Examine the keyboard. Some laptops have spill-resistant keyboards.

• Pour out the liquid contained in the keyboard enclosure.
• Remove and clean and easily remove the keyboard.

6.Clean the sticky residue. The screen, the keyboard and the buttons may be dirty. Use a lint-free cloth that is clean and slightly wet.

7

Insulate yourself from static discharge. Static electricity can damage any computer. Learn how to ground yourself to avoid destroying a computer with electrostatic discharge.

8

Take apart the case. You may need to take apart the case if you cannot clean the whole spill. Some spills can damage the circuit boards.

• If you don't feel like taking your laptop apart, then have someone else do it.
• Remove all cards and drives as possible.

9

Remove dry residue. Use a lint-free cloth to gently remove non-water stains. Use compressed air or a vacuum cleaner to blow away the residue.

10

Rinse off the residue. If you spilled anything that is not water, then rinse it clean. There are several ways to rinse your machine, depending on the kind of spill, and how much risk you are willing to endure:

• Think about what has been spilled on/in your computer, and determine whether it is water soluble or not. Use deionized water for water-soluble stains such as cola. Otherwise, rinse with alcohol then water.
• Rinse with water. Take any components that have residue and rinse them under water. Most circuit boards handle water as long as they are not powered. Moving parts such as CD drives and fans may not handle water well.
• Rinse with deionized or distilled water. Many people choose deionized water over tap water. Regular water will leave deposits that can cause electrical shorts, but deionized water will not.
• Rinse as much as possible and carefully remove excess water.

11

Let it dry. Make sure that the parts are dry. As with rinsing, there are different theories on drying:

• Dry naturally. Prop the machine up, away from surfaces, so that air can circulate in and around the entire unit. Leave the machine to dry for 24 to 48 hours. While it is drying, place the laptop battery in uncooked rice.
• Dry with light heat. Use moderately warm sources of heat. Let it dry for approximately 12 hours. A dehumidifier may improve drying time.
• Never use a hair dryer, as this will cause static problems and contaminate your laptop. A hair dryer at a high setting could also melt some of the plastic components. In extreme cases the hair dryer will drive moisture deeper into the circuits and components and that moisture will oxidize and create capacitive load connections under and inside of integrated circuits and connectors, eventually failing the laptop. The best way to remove all residual moisture is to patiently draw it away with a vacuum cleaner held over the affected areas for up to 20 minutes in each accessible area, having already removed the majority of liquids and moisture manually and dried all visible moisture by hand, so that none enters the vacuum cleaner. This method is preferable to leaving it to dry naturally as it halts any oxidation from occurring deep inside small surface mount components and connections, that can result in issues later on.

12

Clean with a solvent. Some people like solvent-based cleaners as a second rinse. It is recommended if the unit has been sitting long enough to be subject to corrosion and oxidation before repair and cleaning is attempted. Always use gloves and ensure good room ventilation when handling any solvent or alcohol based cleaners as some are known carcinogens.

• If you suspect that your first rinse did not remove all of the residue, a chemical rinse of this kind may be worth the risk. The advantages of such a rinse are: there is only one substance to apply and remove; that substance, typically, evaporates; long drying times are not required. The disadvantage is that, if you use the wrong solvents, you can literally dissolve your computer.
• Buy and use 99% isopropyl alcohol. Never use gasoline or acetone to clean computer parts, as the plastic will dissolve in the gasoline or acetone.
• Use a cotton swab to carefully wipe each component of the board, until it is clean.
• You can also use flux remover from an electronics store.
• The damage occurs when the current from the battery short circuits due to the water, which is costly. Make sure the laptop is completely dry before turning it back on.

13

Reassemble and test the laptop.

14

If the laptop doesn't turn on, contact the nearest computer repair/service shop.

Tips

• Some companies have a spill provision in their warranties; it won't hurt to check before removing the case. Several Manufacturers will instantaneously void a warranty the moment they feel there is evidence that a computer has been tampered with by an unauthorized technician or service provider. They keep thorough databases of when machines are taken to authorized service centers. If the system has been tampered with, and there is no record of prior service, the manufacturer may not cover the repairs.
• When drying the computer, allow air to circulate all around the machine, by propping it up away from surfaces, so that air can get under it. Allow several days to dry for safety.
• Never force the case off, or you will break plastic or bend metal. If the case does not come off easily, look for more screws.
• Deionized water is used often in the semiconductor industry, as tap water contains many ions or chemical impurities that may leave a residue on very sensitive electronic components.
• Several companies sell keyboard covers/membranes for laptops. It does take a little getting used to, and you have to turn up the keypad sensitivity, but it doesn't allow spills to get between the keys.
• Removing the case on most laptops is not easy. Typically, you must remove all screws. The screws are tiny and will be all over the place. Check for screws on the outside, of course, but also in any internal compartments, such as, behind the battery or under labels.
• Look for a service manual or hardware maintenance manual for your particular laptop on the manufacturer's website. These guides can tell you, step by step, how to disassemble your laptop.
• Case screws may be star screws, in which case you will need the correct-sized, star screwdriver set.
• Some tablet machines have no keyboard to spill into (or break), and come with rubber protectors to protect ports. You can still spill liquids into them, you'll just have a tougher time doing it.
• Consider purchasing an "accidental spill" warranty, if you know you are going to be around liquids frequently. This may add a few hundred dollars to the purchase price of your laptop, but it will be much cheaper than having to buy a new one.
• If there are many different screws in the casing, then you can make a drawing of the layout on paper, and tape each screw to the drawing. This way you won't be in doubt about which goes where when you're putting the whole thing back together.
• You could consider a 'ruggedized notebook' that is liquid and shock proof if you are prone to accidents.
• You can buy total replacement 'notebook insurance' for the machine on an annual basis fairly cheaply (at least until it's depreciated enough not to bother with). Don't buy an extended warranty or 'replacement' contract at the store unless you've shopped the price on-line. You should also be aware that these "third party" warranties will often only cover repairs that are performed "in house", and not repairs that are only available through the manufacturer. In some cases, these "in house" repairs will use parts that are not approved by the manufacturer and will void your eligibility to extend your warranty with the manufacturer.
• Be aware that laptops are often designed with custom components and connections that vary by manufacturer. A component that slides into place, and is held there by a screw on one model, may need to have a cover removed, and an entire retention bracket loosened on another model.
• Several companies also sell laptop vests and laptop jackets. The vests are a light cover that merely protects the top and bottom of a laptop from scratches (one model comes with a handle) while the jacket zips completely shut around the laptop like a binder (also has a zipper for back access ports). There are some more expensive models of laptop jackets meant for use in extreme conditions, and they have enough padding to protect against moderate falls.
• If at all possible, attempt to take a video of the entire disassemble process. Understanding the orientation and placement of cables and brackets is pivotal. It only takes one screw punching through a cable or ribbon to fry entire circuit boards.
• Set the Power Options of your laptop to Do nothing when you close the lid. While the coffee gets served, you can close the lid to guard against damaging spills. This way, when you re-open, you don’t have to re-enter a password. Also, while you are downloading you might want to close the lid without the system shutting down. Closing the lid will always turn off the screen, independent from software settings, to avoid overheating and to save energy.
• Check a tropical fish store for tablets to deionize water.
• The manufacturer is usually willing to disassemble and diagnose a liquid damaged system for a nominal fee, depending on who they have contracted to furnish repairs for your model of computer. A call to your manufacturer's technical support will provide all of the details.
• Try turning it off and on again, first.
• Most spills can easily be avoided. Keep your computer away from food and liquids.

For further assistance please contact; Qplus John...... 08066294759