Hardware is an aspect of your computer that doesn’t require the need to be changed that often, unlike software. So if your hardware shouldn’t need to be changed that often you want to make sure that when you purchase it you are buying a piece of hardware that will last.A lot of people overlook the need and responsibility of PC hardware and instead concentrate primarily on software. Without the correct hardware your PC will fail to function correctly.The term hardware can be fixed to many aspects of your computer, with the main aspect being your motherboard. The motherboard is classed as the heart of your computer; its main purpose is to provide electrical and logical connections. Without a motherboard your computer will not be able to function. Components such as external storage, controllers for video display and sound are attached to the motherboard via edge connectors and cables.The central processing unit (CPU) is also found on the motherboard and acts as another important piece of computer hardware. The CPU performs most of the calculations which enables a computer to function. The CPU and the motherboard are found within the tower of your computer as is the computer fan, needed to keep your computer at a safe temperature and your power supply, which is obviously needed to ensure your computer has power to function. Along with all of these you will also find your computers sound card and graphics card within your computer tower. Your graphics card, also known as a video display controller, is important to your computer as it is what enables you to get a good resolution and without one you would not be able to watch videos, play games or even clearly see flash images on websites.One last hardware feature of importance that is kept within your computer tower is the computers hard drive. The hard drive is the storage area of your computer system. All your programmes and applications as well as images, music, video and all forms of media that is on your computer are stored within your computers hard drive.All of the previously mentioned hardware is stored in the tower of your computer but there are aspects of computer hardware that are visible on your computer such as removable media in the form of a CD drive, DVD drive, floppy disc and USB ports.When it comes to buying these pieces of computer hardware most people head straight to the biggest brand store and pay over expensive prices for hardware that you could have got a lot cheaper from another avenue. If you are looking to buy computer hardware there are a number of options open to you rather than just buying new. For example there are computer fairs that are held, which sell all forms of computer hardware at very reasonable prices; if you know what you are looking for you will be able to find a great deal at a computer fair. However if you would prefer buying from a retailer have you considered buying used hardware? Please don’t be put off by the term used what is meant by this is you would be buying new hardware that has been returned by customers and restored by the retailer. Dell is a prime example of a store that frequently sells hardware that has been returned and has been repaired to new standards.All of the equipment is new and only has minor issues such as a slight dent. Retailers such as Dell sell restored equipment within their store and also do so over the Internet on sites such as eBay. All of this equipment comes at a discounted price with around 10-40% being taken off the original price depending on the level of interest. So next time you require to purchase computer equipment, shop around instead of just settling for a high price.

Data encryption was first used by the government, mainly to guard military secrets. In today’s world of Internet businesses, this method of protecting your computer data is being used more and more by financial institutions and other businesses as a means to prevent anyone from gaining unauthorized access to money transfers and other financial matters.There are several different types of encryption methods that are available. Hardware based encryption is considered to be the best by many computer experts. This type of encryption is placed directly on your computers hardware, which allows you to protect your data even if your operating system is not active.One of the major advantages that a hardware based encryption system has over the other types is the fact that it can be made virtually transparent to software. This factor simply means that this encryption is transparent to the operating system, allowing it to be used with any system that you may have.Due to this transparency, hardware based encryption may also enhance your operating system’s performance. When integrated with the media itself, this hardware may lead to the media being designed for better integration with other operating systems.Critics of the hardware based encryption point out that due to its size of its keys (some being as small as 40 bits), this encryption can easily be subjected to brute force attack. This attack is the way that outside sources can systematically try all the possibilities and combinations of the keys to decrypt all of your data. By only implementing 40 bits, the number of possibilities is at a minimum and a person with strong computer knowledge may easily be able to get around this hardware based security.Another criticism that has been made about these hardware based encryption systems is the fact that the vendors who manufacture this hardware do not publish how the encryption itself is done. This secrecy leads to the potential customer possibly buying hardware that they know literally nothing about, including how well the encryption system performs. This aspect of the manufacturing of these hardware systems can also lead to vendor lock-in, which means that the customer is locked-in to purchasing all products and services from the vendor who designed that hardware. This policy prohibits the customer from comparative shopping for these products and forces him to pay whatever price the vendor is asking.Vendor lock-in can also affect the compatibility of the hardware based encryption with other equivalent components. For example, your hardware based encryption system may be inoperable with other systems such as the application program or the file format unless these programs are also designed by the same vendor. These hardware systems may not work with other operating systems either. These prohibitions enable one particular vendor to corner the market for the technological needs of your company.Another problem that a company may have with hardware based encryption is the high cost that is associated with installing and maintaining it. Many companies find that this hardware is just too expensive to be implemented into their computers.Hardware based encryption is a good way to secure your computer data. However, you will need to decide if the high cost and risks associated with this hardware is worth it.