Questions regarding architectures or design of specific parts, not consumer-related questions.
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Best option for saving energy [closed]
Which is better option among sleep, hibernate and shutdown in terms of energy saving ?
And which is better in terms of computer's life ?
0
votes
1answer
38 views
What's the difference between delayed branch and branch prediction?
I'm studying how delayed branch works and I'm trying to distinguish delayed branch from branch prediction. What is the difference? Is delayed branch a means to facilitate a control hazard?
-1
votes
0answers
81 views
Turn on computer by cell phone but not when it's already on [closed]
I am newbie in electronic engineering. I'm trying to turn on my computer by calling my cell phone. I toke two wires from the vibrator of the cell phone and that's fine, but I don't want to turn off my ...
-4
votes
0answers
30 views
Benq S6 BIOS Flasher [closed]
I need to flash the bios of my BENQ S6. I have the .rom file. It doesn't have a OS installed, so it has to be able to boot off a flashdrive/CD.
0
votes
1answer
23 views
How to calculate the address fields for a cache?
I've a homework question about 32-bit cache memories:
For a cache memory that has size 16kB (16384 byte) and blocksize 2
words, state the names and the sizes of each field of the address that
...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
What is the meaning of “Register.Rd”?
Reading Hennesy's book "Computer Organization and Design" it is mentioned "Register.Rd" and "Register.Rs" but what does it mean? The .Rd, .Rt and .Rs parts I can't understand, on page 365:
0
votes
1answer
70 views
How is sign extension used in practice?
In wikipedia it says what sign extension is but it doesn't say what it's used for or when it is used. I read Hennesy's book "Computer Organization and Design" and it has a sign-extension mechanism ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
What does RWM mean?
I'm studying computer hardware and the acronym "RWM" appears, so I wonder what it means? It has to do with LOADs and STOREs of instructions.
-7
votes
0answers
49 views
how to find and insert usb address in a C program? [closed]
I am making a project in which i have to transfer data from a microcontroller to my laptop via a USB to UART converter(to convert to ttl logic), and display the data on the computer by a C program.
I ...
-5
votes
0answers
36 views
System timer( by using basic logic gates only) [closed]
Computers contain a timer containing programmable channels. Programmable channels mean timers of different durations. You are to design a circuit with four programmable channels, each disabled ...
-3
votes
1answer
56 views
Best way to Interface with PC/MAC/iDevices/Smartphones [closed]
What do you think is the best way to communicate a hardware with PC, MACs, iDevices and Smartphones (with Android, Windows Mobile, etc.) ?
We need to make a voice chat (like VOIP) and also exchange ...
-3
votes
2answers
95 views
where to begin learning PC board designing [closed]
can someone please guide the correct path to learn board designing for computers. being specific i am just keen to design a SBC(single board computer) just for hobby purposes my current knowledge is ...
1
vote
2answers
169 views
Can I connect a Solar Panel to augment my computer's power supply directly to a 12V line?
I use my computer to mine Bitcoins with a HD 7970 GHz Edition GPU. It currently draws a steady 465W.
I would like to offset the draw, if possible, with a reasonably priced solar panel (~240-500W). ...
6
votes
4answers
190 views
Recommendation of a USB to RS232 chip for industrial environment
I have bought a device which has a ATMega microcontroller and a FTDI chip which connects to a computer through USB. The FTDI is used only as RS232 to USB adapter.
My problem is that this device ...
1
vote
2answers
31 views
Creating a unit to input an array of different computers display/sound and output only 1 with a switch to select
I have a few computers and I was wondering if there was an inexpensive way to link them all to a box that I would be able to use to select which ones I want outputted to my monitor(s).
I've only ...
4
votes
3answers
155 views
How to find socket for keyboard connector?
I am looking for a socket which is able to receive the connector of the ThinkPad X41's keyboard. How do I identify the socket so that I can find it on the (German) market?
Background: I want to build ...
1
vote
2answers
134 views
Where to get 12V from my computer?
Since I am having some trouble with a battery pack and a charger I want to use for a home robotics project I got a tip to just use some alternative power source and buy a new battery and charger once ...
1
vote
2answers
142 views
Calculating maximum data rates
A channel has bandwidth 3 KHz, signal to noise ratio is 40 dB find maximum data rate for 16 level encoding schemes.
There are two ways to find channel capacity. First one is with Nyquist theorem and ...
1
vote
2answers
178 views
Using a computer, to turn on a light bulb on and off many times
I build my own pcs, like coding (a little bit) and into engineering.
What I want to do is basically take my computer, hook it up to a circuit with a light bulb and then run a program that will switch ...
1
vote
2answers
197 views
Using Audio Input of computer as Oscilloscope for Hobby Electronics
I just discovered an app for mac that uses the Audio Input of the computer and the AD-converter in the sound card as an Oscilloscope.
First, I was thinking this can't work... but theoretically, it's ...
4
votes
1answer
116 views
How large is the address decoder to select an address in RAM? Is the address decoder just a bunch of multiplexers?
I have recently started building simple computing devices using logic gates inside of Minecraft. What I'm trying to build right now is some RAM, and an address decoder for this RAM. I want to build a ...
-4
votes
4answers
503 views
Can a phone charger be adapted to charge a laptop battery? [closed]
I've obtained a laptop that has no charger. Short of buying another charger online, can a phone charger be adapted to charge the laptop's battery, provided it's disconnected from the laptop (i.e., the ...
-2
votes
1answer
57 views
nvidia display adapter downgraded itself to HD [closed]
I am experiencing something strange in one of my laptops that I haven't seen before. The laptop is an ASUS K52JC, has an Nvidia Geforce 310M. I have it setup as a dual boot with both windows 7 and ...
2
votes
3answers
253 views
Emulate USB device with USB host
Is it in principle possible to connect two computers with a USB A to USB A cable, and have one pretend to be a USB device, and the other act as host?
Assume I have complete control on the software ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
Electrical Engineering vs Computer Engineering? [closed]
I am trying to decide whether to major in EE or CE. To my knowledge, computer engineering has the same core focus as electrical engineering but with an emphasis on digital logic and microprocessors. ...
2
votes
1answer
178 views
How to calculate index and tag fields lengths for a cpu cache?
I study computer engeering notes for a cache memory and I try to understand what determines the length of the index and the tag fields. The first examples is for 64 bits and the second example is for ...
1
vote
3answers
218 views
Using a USB device locally on 2 computers [closed]
I would like to make what I can best describe as a reverse USB switch, where one USB 2.0 device (a dongle) is physically connected to 2 computers (located side by side). The dongle is powered through ...
3
votes
1answer
242 views
What is CLK in UART/USART used for?
I'm studying computer architecture at my university and I've been recently asked a question: what is CLK used for in UART/USART? The first obvious thing is that it is used for dividing frequency when ...
2
votes
2answers
206 views
Why some computer peripherals should not be disconnected without turning off things?
As far as I know, some cables should not be disconnected from computer while it and/or the device is running and persistent hardware damage can occur if they are unplugged errorneously.
Currently the ...
-2
votes
1answer
226 views
How to build a SoC computer? [closed]
I've found my self very interested on Raspberry Pi. Although, I think it's not powerful enough for my project, so I was wondering how could I build a more powerful SoC computer, with a bigger board, ...
0
votes
2answers
135 views
Computer case causing interference with TV
I've recently changed my computer case to a new, bigger case. However, after I changed this case over, I can no longer watch TV due to interference with the signal.
I have removed every output to my ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
Using Audio Cable to connect to computer [closed]
I have a HB100 Microwave Sensor Module which I am going to use for an experiment, and I want to transfer the data it produces directly onto my computer. Since the output of the device is in the audio ...
1
vote
0answers
149 views
I am looking for a way to interface a phone landline with my computer's sound card in both directions [closed]
My approaches so far:
This thread seems to go nowhere. It was trying to build the circuitry myself, but people have problems recommending suitable circuits. We keep on fiddling about with ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Hardware problem. Cannot connect touch pad [closed]
I have HP DV200 notebook. Few weeks ago my motherboard burnt and i bought new one 30b5 . I`ve built everything works good but i cannot connect touch pad on motherboard.
My touch pad have 8 pin wire ...
0
votes
5answers
375 views
FTDI Chip to Serial port
I am wondering if I have the right idea. I need to connect my computer to my servers serial port for some debugging, I have no other computers that have serial ports but I have FTDI serial boards for ...
1
vote
1answer
439 views
Use 3.5V power LED connection on motherboard to control a 12V lighting accessory in a computer case?
Background for the problem:
I rebuilt my computer in a new case where the components fit a bit better. Everything is great, and I have no issues with it. However, because of the way they engineered ...
1
vote
1answer
140 views
emi standards/best practices for PC cases
According to an EE friend, the FCC specifies EMI tolerances (max outputs) for PC components, including cases. However, here it says that there are standards for a number of components but not cases.
...
-2
votes
1answer
299 views
Connecting a telephone to the computer's soundcard to playback music samples while talking [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to boost audio volume coming from a telephone
Foreword: If you don't know the answer, don't leave. Write your idea where I could find an answer to this as a comment.
...
7
votes
2answers
549 views
Are 32-bit ALUs really just 32 1-bit ALUs in parallell?
I'm reading the high esteemed text Computer Organization where this picture is found that is supposed to represent a 32-bit ALU:
Is this technology really how it's done, just a lot of 1-bit ALUs, so ...
0
votes
0answers
177 views
Electromagnetic radiation from specific monitors [closed]
I'm concerned about the health impact from EMF produced by home/office appliances. In particular I would like to know if somebody measured the Electromagnetic radiation of any of the following ...
3
votes
1answer
198 views
How to feed laptop + bulb with solar energy?
I reside in Kathmandu where the current power supply is so weak one has to face between 8 to 18 h power cut per day. In order to work, I need to have continuous supply of energy for my laptop and a ...
-2
votes
3answers
146 views
Do computers delete memory contents? [closed]
So, if the program is finished, and jobs done, do computers "physically" reset memory contents? If they don't, what are the reasons for not resetting memory contents?
7
votes
4answers
549 views
Why do computers only use 0 and 1?
Why do computers only use 0 and 1? Won't the addition of other numbers such as 2 or 3 speed up computers? Also, 2 and 3 can be used to shorten the bit-length of integers (2 and 3 can be used to end an ...
1
vote
4answers
271 views
Computer bus frequency and electricity frequency
From http://en.kioskea.net/contents/pc/bus.php3
A computer bus is characterised by the amount of information that can be
transmitted at once. This amount, expressed in bits, corresponds to
...
1
vote
1answer
426 views
How to confirm if GPU, CPU or motherboard is broken?
So I was hacking my internal laptop monitor (basically I was trying to understand the pinout and try to use it externally). During that I used continuity checker to trace circuitry.
It is my old ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the typical max voltage out of a PC speaker Jack?
I'm trying to use CD4051BCN chip to channel some speaker outputs from a computer. these chips handle analog voltages from +/-5V.
What is the audio line max/min Voltage coming out of the desktop PC? I ...
-6
votes
3answers
219 views
Powering Laptop internal monitor
So I have a problem with my old laptop. Internal monitor is not working. External is working.
So I tried to understand what's the problem.
I tried to check if inverter is broken. It get's a good 19V ...
2
votes
2answers
539 views
Making one usb headset work with two computers
I have a question about connecting one Logitech USB headset to work with two computers at the same time. I would think this would be able to be accomplished in the same kind of way a KVM works but ...
-3
votes
1answer
88 views
Which laptop? Compaq or Acer? [closed]
I am comparing 2 different laptops. There is about a $50 difference with the Acer having 4GB RAM and the Compaq having 2GB ram.
Do any of you have any preferance on which computer would be better, ...
3
votes
3answers
951 views
Buzzer on a computer mainboard
I would like to remove the buzzer on an Intel mainboard, and replace it with an LED with a resistor. Is there a standard voltage that I can assume that comes to the two ends of the buzzer?
Why was a ...
