Windows 7 is Microsoft's most recent installment in its Windows line of operating systems for personal computers. Microsoft's last Windows installment was Windows Vista, which they released less than three years ago. Windows 7 is different from Windows Vista, in that while it does introduce many new features for its users, it does not release as many new features as Windows Vista did, which could be beneficial for anyone looking to make a switch. Microsoft intends Windows 7 to be a more focused and more incremental upgrade to a previous version of Windows – instead of radically changing everything, they have set the goal of letting everything like your programs and files and other applications that already work with Windows Vista still work well and be compatible with Windows 7. In other words, this new version of Windows should be something that improves upon and fine tunes certain aspects, instead of completely changing the game again, as happened when you made the change from Windows XP to Windows Vista when Vista was released.

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If you use a computer, then chances are extremely high that you have heard the terms bits and bytes before. The RAM (random access memory) in your computer system is measured in bytes. The size of your hard drive (also sometimes called the hard disk) is measured in bytes. The files that you use, from Word documents to mp3 songs to mp4 videos to video games to software, programs and other applications, are all measured in bytes. When you browse the local computer shop to check out the systems that they have available, many of the specs you will see provided to tell you how the computer system works and how efficient it is will be specified in bits and bytes. For example, you may see a Dell laptop for sale that proclaims it has a 32 bit processor with 1 gigabyte of RAM and an 80 gigabyte hard drive.

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The central processing unit inside your computer system is the brains of the operation. Central processing units are extremely tiny little chips – which is why they are also sometimes referred to as microprocessors – that fit into your computer system's motherboard. They are then covered up with a little contraption called a heat sink that is then covered with a fan to keep things cool. The heat sink and fan form a seal with the central processing unit via means of a bit of silver paste called thermal compound that helps to evenly disburse heat. This is because central processing units have a tendency to run extremely hot. Since delicate computer components can be ruined or broken if they become too hot, the CPU needs to have this special heat sink and fan to keep it cool – especially since the central processing unit is even more delicate than the usual fragility of your computer's parts.

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Welcome to the second installment in the Be Your Own IT series, All About Central Processing Units and How They Work. In the first part of this series, we talked about what a CPU is, other names for it, and the different aspects and features that go into making a CPU what it is. In this, part 2 of our series, we are going to take a little more in depth look at those features to help you understand your chip even more.

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Welcome to the third and final installment in the Be Your Own IT series entitled All About Central Processing Units and How They Work. In the previous two installments in this series, we discussed many different aspects of central processing units, how they work, and how your computer system uses your central processing unit to get different jobs done. Without a CPU, your computer simply won't work right, because the central processing unit is the brains of the operation, so to speak. It processes all of the information and data from the other components and parts in your system and then tells them what to do.

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Many people might not give their computer's case much thought, but the truth is that the case plays an important role in the actual functionality of your computer system. A computer's case serves several different roles. First, it protects and houses your computer's delicate parts and components. The motherboard is bolted down into a computer's case, and as all of the computer's other necessary parts are attached to that motherboard, they, too, are housed inside of it. The case also serves to ground the motherboard, since it will at least partially be made of metal.

A computer case has drive bays designed to hold hard drives, and it also provides slots for all of your CD and DVD ROM drives, and your floppy drives, too, if you have those. It houses the power supply that feeds power to all of your computer's components. That power supply also converts the power from your outlets into a form of power that the motherboard can make actual use of. Your computer's case also provides much of the necessary airflow a computer system needs to stay properly cooled and functioning, via case fans and air vents.

A good computer case is one that is large enough to hold all of the current computer components and devices you have, as well as large enough to add additional pieces later, if you so choose. It should be sturdy and strong enough that none of your components will come loose and rattle around inside. It should have a large case fan and ample air vents to draw air through the case and expel the hot air out, away from your delicate equipment that is so susceptible to heat damage. A good computer case will also have a power supply that is strong enough to power all of the different devices and components you need it to.

There are many different kinds of cases on the market today. You can buy a case that is fancy looking, with bright lights and fun colors, or you can get a plain but serviceable case. Some modern computer cases are even water cooled – they provide cooling for your system via pipes full of water. When shopping for a computer case, make sure you choose one that will fit your motherboard, as motherboards come in different sizes, and so do computer cases. Once you have found one that fits all of your needs, you will be set!

Computers have become a ubiquitous and inescapable part of our day to day lives. We encounter them constantly throughout the day – at work, at play, at the grocery store, in our homes, at our favorite restaurants, in our schools, and everywhere in between. And because computers are so ubiquitous and inescapable, so too is computer memory. Without computer memory, then our computers will not work correctly. But do you know how computer memory actually works? If not, do not worry – you are not alone. There are many different types of computer memory, each with their own unique purposes and jobs to do, and many people really have no idea how it all actually works!

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In the first part of this series of articles on computer memory and it works, we talked about your computer system's RAM and what it does. We also mentioned some of the other types of computer memory are available and some of the other devices that you likely use on a daily basis that also use their own forms of computer memory, like your cell phones or your video game consoles. To recap quickly, the following are some of the more common types of computer memory that you may encounter at some point, often without even realizing it.

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In the first two installments in this series on what computer memory is, what it does, and how it works, we talked about the basics – such as the various types of computer memory you are likely to encounter in a day, the most typical types of computer memory you will find on a typical computer system, and why your computer requires different types of memory to run.

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Welcome to the fourth installment in the All About Computer Memory and How It Works series here on Be Your Own IT. In this installment, we are going to take a closer look at your computer's system RAM. You are already most likely aware that your computer needs system RAM to run correctly and that the more system RAM you have available for your central processing unit to use, the faster and more efficient your computer system will run. Knowing that is sometimes enough for most people, but if you really want to be your own IT, then you need to understand how system RAM works in more in depth detail.

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