PC UPGRADE UPDATE
by Adam Smith
THE EXCLUSIVE NEWSLETTER OF
---PC SHOPPING PLANET---
http://www.shoppingplanet.com
1-800-779-8461
January 10, 1997
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IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE: >
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A NEW SOUND- Changes are coming for Windows sound. What
to expect in the coming year.
ITEMS- Microsoft comes out swinging, digital TV marks its
first broadcast.
HOT DEALS- Be sure to check out Shopping Planet's
weekly specials!
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At Shopping Planet, we wish you all the best of the New Year!
The new year finds me with my right (mouse) arm in a plaster
cast. I was running as fast as I could run with my dog, and
the dog decided to run faster. Unfortunately, I was still
attached to the dog! I took a bad tumble. For now, I am
forced to hunt and peck with my left hand. This paragraph
will have taken twenty minutes to type by the time this
sentence is done!
===============
A NEW SOUND
===============
Changes are coming for Windows sound. The Sound Blaster
standard is showing its age and needs to be replaced with a
more capable standard that is Windows friendly. In addition,
the ISA bus is running out of the bandwidth needed for
today's high quality audio.
THE MOVE TO PCI-
With a bandwidth of only 2 to 6 MB/s, the ISA bus is limiting
the things that designers can implement. The lower bandwidth
also prevents true high fidelity reproduction. In addition,
ISA based solutions consume IRQs and DMAs that are in short
supply. Also, sound cards and modems are fast becoming the
only cards in your PC that use the ISA bus. Availability of
PCI based sound cards and modems would allow the elimination
of the threadbare ISA bus from computer systems entirely!
Unfortunately, the elimination of IRQs and DMAs creates a
compatibility problem. Legacy applications expect to find a
Sound Blaster compatible card residing at a specific IRQ and
DMA line. Since the PCI bus doesn't support these features, a
workaround is used to provide support for older programs.
USB/Firewire-
Supplementing PCI are two new technologies that provide for
high-speed external peripherals: USB and Firewire. USB is
already being implemented on most new system boards, and will
provide a plug and play, hot swappable solution for
connecting external peripherals. Firewire is still
forthcoming, but will provide even faster connections that
will deliver the bandwidth needed for demanding A/V
peripherals.
USB will allow the audio signal to remain in a digital state
until after it leaves the electrically noisy computer case
environment. Instead, the digital to analog conversion will
occur in circuitry mounted inside the external speaker unit.
This will allow for higher fidelity with less distortion and
noise.
A NEW MODEL-
In the past, there were two basic ways of generating musical
sounds in a PC sound card: FM and wavetable synthesis. FM
synthesis adds multiple sine waves summed together to
simulate various sounds. The results are poor renditions of
the instruments they are designed to simulate. More realism
is achieved by utilizing real instrument samples coded into a
wavetable.
Physical modeling will use coded algorithms to physically
model the instrument inside the computer providing realistic
results without the need for large digital samples. In
addition, the formulas that create the sound are easily
manipulated to provide variations that are more difficult to
achieve in a wavetable system.
DIRECT X-
DOS based sound solutions were very flexible for designers,
allowing direct control of the hardware. Under Windows,
direct manipulation of the hardware is a no-no. Instead,
applications must write to hardware through the Windows
Application Programming Interface (API). Windows then uses a
device driver to achieve standard results that are hardware
independent.
While this scheme is desirable from a practical standpoint
(freeing programmers from the task of writing special code to
support every conceivable peripheral), it is also very
limiting. If a function is missing from the API, then the
programmer is out of luck! This is why many games are still
coded in DOS years after Windows became the standard OS!
Microsoft has been addressing these problems with the DirectX
extensions to the Windows API. Past versions of DirectX were
primarily concerned with providing designers with video
functions, critical in any game. DirectX 5.0 adds DirectSound
and DirectSound3D to allow device independent control of
audio hardware as well. These extensions should, at last,
sound the death knell for DOS based application development.
DirectX functionality is being added to new sound cards in
the form of new drivers.
3D-
Modern surround sound uses six speakers to provide more
dimensionality to the sound "image" than is possible with
only two speakers. Movie theaters and home theater systems
have the luxury of placing speakers all around the listener.
Unfortunately such an arrangement is not always convenient in
a computer installation.
To help get around this problem, engineers are using the
principals of psycho-acoustics to simulate a 3D sound field
using only two speakers. Signals coming from the speakers are
given minute changes in timing and pitch to fool your mind
into thinking that the sound came from somewhere beyond the
two dimensional soundstage usually associated with dual
speaker systems. The effect can be quite good if you are
properly positioned in the "sweet spot" between the speakers.
AUDIO CODEC 97-
Audio Codec 97 (AC97) describes a two chip solution for
providing higher fidelity PC audio at an affordable price.
The standard specifies two chips: one primarily for digital,
one primarily for analog. The standard allows the digital
portion of the signal to remain in the PC, while the analog
portion goes near the final output device, insulating it from
the noise generated by digital circuitry. The standard is
friendly to PCI, USB, and Firewire bus configurations.
CONCLUSIONS-
As you can see, PC audio is going to have an exciting year!
Some products are already available, and more are on the way.
Look for these features when planning your PC audio system.
==========
Items-
==========
-Microsoft has decided that they would rather fight than
switch. They will be going to court over the IE4 issue.
According to Microsoft, nothing less than the future of
Windows is at stake. They may be correct. When the Justice
Department casts itself in the role of determining what
features Microsoft can and cannot give consumers in their
products, trouble is brewing. The Justice Department is
neither qualified nor mandated to become the boss of the
computer industry. So far, the only complaints have been
from Microsoft's competitors and that self-appointed
dufus at large, Ralph Nader.
In our business, a single, ubiquitous operating system is
both desirable and inevitable. Besides, the difference
between having IE4 ship free with Windows, or be available
for free downloading is a subtle one. Is DOJ going to
prevent Microsoft from giving away Explorer? How does that
help the consumer? Maybe they should also look into those
free french fries that Burger King is giving away. It
could be unfair to McDonald's!
-A small landmark on the road to better television occurred
this week. The Rose Parade was broadcast in digital high
definition by station KTLA Los Angeles. There aren't more
than a handful of sets capable of receiving the signal, but
this engineering run-through is still a landmark in the
long awaited conversion to a better TV signal!
==============
HOT DEALS-
==============
HOT HOT DEALS!!
- MAXTOR 81071A2 1.08 Gb EIDE_____________________$ 99.99
- TURTLE BEACH 4X Full Multimedia Kit_____________$ 64.99
- 32 MB 72 pins 60 ns EDO_________________________$ 59.99
- 16 MB 72 pins 60 ns EDO_________________________$ 29.99
- MITSUMI 24X Internal CD ROM_____________________$ 73.20
- M Technology M549 TX motherboard________________$ 80.00
- GOLDSTAR 17" monitor____________________________$ 299.00
- AMD K6 200 MHz w/MMX technology_________________$ 182.20
NEW PRODUCTS
- CREATIVE LABS Graphics Blaster Exxtreme 4 MB____$ 123.30
With 4 MB of SGRAM (100MHz), free your system and
your imagination. Test It and Love It.
- RICOH ZIPSHOT Full Motion Capture Device________$ 120.20
Connects to printer Port, 3-in-1 Video Capture Device.
1- The ultimate Capture Device: Capture still image
and full motion video
2- Video Conferencing Capabilities: No cards to install.
3- Digital Camera Acelerator: Grab images quickly from
any NTSC source
Zipshot is a multi-function capture tool that is
bundled with one of the best software packages
- EPSON STYLUS PHOTO 720 x 720 dpi Printer________$ 381.00
Professional results, thanks to Photo Reproduction
Quality and LivePix Software.
Quality pictures made from your personal Computer.
- KODAK DC 120 Digital Zoom Camera________________$ 797.40
Digital Camera with Zoom, 2MB flash card, 1.6" LCD
Display, Built-In Flash.
Easy to use, excellent performance!!
- PROMISE SCSIULTRA Wide Ultra SCSI Controller____$ 130.40
This Ultra Wide SCSI PCI controller card is fast,
reliable and inexpensive. Try it and Love It.
- SYQUEST SPARQ 1.0 GB Internal IDE w/cartridge___$ 199.60
Hard drive performance on a removeable media drive.
1GB per cartridge, easy to install and use, uses IDE
interface, uses IDE mode 4 speeds of up to 16.6MB/sec
burst - 3.7MB/sec - 6.9MB/sec sustained and 12ms
access time. This is a Great Deal!!!
- ASUS P2L97 Pentium II motherboard_______________$ 224.40
Intel LX Chipset, 2 ISA, 5 PCI, 1 AGP slots. Ultra
DMA compatible (up to 33.3 Mb/sec). 3 DIMM/SDRAM
memory slots. ATX Form Factor.
This motherboard is Fast!!
- Motherboard Upgrade Kit #11_____________________$ 592.30
Feature Intel Pentium II 233 MHz CPU, M Technology
M628 Motherboard, Intel 440 LX Chipset, 512 Kb Cache
4ISA/3PCI/1AGP, AT Form Factor. Manuals, Cables and
Instructions. Jump to Pentium II generation.
- FIC PA2007 1024 KB Cache, VIA Chipset Pentium___$ 119.60
One of the hottest motherboard in the market.
Features 1024 KB of cache, 3PCI/4ISA, supports Ultra
DMA mode, up to 233 MHz CPU (MMX), AT Form Factor.
- Kit #30 Motherbaord Upgrade Kit_________________$ 408.90
This full upgrade kit features: AMD K6 200MHz MMX
Pentium Motherboard, 512 Kb pipeline cache, cables,
32 MB EDO, 2MB PCI Graphic Card, ISA Sound Card
Full solution for your system.
UPGRADE KITS
- Kit #15 Upgrade motherboard Kit_________________$ 389.00
Featuring INTEL 200MHz MMX CPU and the high performance
M Technology R534 Motherboard, with 512 Kb Cache
Upgrade you system with full MMX features!!!
- Kit #23 Upgrade motherboard Kit_________________$ 257.40
Featuring Cyrix M2 200MHz CPU and the high performance
M Technology R534 Motherboard, with 512 Kb Cache
running at 75 MHz!!.
- Kit #22 Upgrade motherboard Kit_________________$ 320.20
AMD K6 200 MHz CPU w/MMX technology, plus the highly
recommended M.Technology R540 motherboard with INTEL
TX chipset and Ultra DMA hard Disk controller (up to
33.3 Mbps)
- Kit #29 Motherboard Upgrade Kit_________________$ 369.50
Featuring: AMD K6 166MHz MMX CPU, M Tech R549 Pentium
Motherboard, 512KB of cache, 32 MB EDO memory, 2MB
Graphic Card and SoundBlaster Sound Card.
Everything tested and configured.
MODEMS:
****** $50.00 Mail-in Rebate from US Robotics *******
- US Robotics 56K internal modem__________________$ 193.80
- US Robotics 56K external modem__________________$ 213.30
- US Robotics 56K internal + voicemail____________$ 213.30
- US Robotics 56K external + voicemail____________$ 232.70
****** Prices BEFORE the $50.00 mail-in rebate ******
- AcerOpen 56K internal with voicemail____________$ 95.00
- AcerOpen 33.6K internal with voicemail__________$ 62.50
- CREATIVE LABS Modem Blaster 56K w/voice_________$ 105.50
- Diamond Supraexpress 56K internal Modem_________$ 145.30
- Diamond Supraexpress 56K external Modem_________$ 136.60
MEMORY:
- 8 MB, 72 pin, 60 ns, EDO non-parity_____________$ 17.40
- 16 MB, 72 pin, 60 ns, EDO non-parity____________$ 29.99
- 32 MB, 72 pin, 60 ns EDO________________________$ 59.99
- 32 MB, 168 pin 60 ns EDO DIMM___________________$ 85.80
- 64 MB, 168 pin 60 ns EDO DIMM___________________$ 157.30
CPUs:
- Intel Pentium 133 MHz___________________________$ 101.10
- Intel Pentium 150 MHz___________________________$ 109.10
- Intel Pentium 166 MHz MMX_______________________$ 124.99
- Intel Pentium 200 MHz MMX_______________________$ 243.60
- Intel Pentium 233 MHz MMX_______________________$ 350.20
- Cyrix M2 166 MHz MMX____________________________$ 99.99
- Cyrix M2 200 MHz MMX____________________________$ 115.00
- Cyrix M2 233 MHz MMX____________________________$ 228.00
- AMD K5 PR-166 MHz_______________________________$ 103.60
- AMD K6-166 MHz__________________________________$ 143.40
- AMD K6-200 MHz__________________________________$ 182.20
- AMD K6-233 MHz__________________________________$ 199.99
MOTHERBOARDS:
- M Technology M549 TX motherboard________________$ 80.00
- M Technology R540 TX chipset 512 KB_____________$ 101.20
- M Technology R534F (for Cyrix M2 200) 512 KB____$ 105.00
- FIC PA2007 1023 KB Cache, VIA Chipset Pentium___$ 119.60
- ABIT PX5 TX 512K JUMPPERLESS____________________$ 107.00
- ASUS TX97 TX 512K_______________________________$ 165.80
HARD DRIVES:
- Western Digital 2.0 Gb__________________________$ 159.80
- Western Digital 3.2 Gb__________________________$ 205.70
- Western Digital 4.0 Gb__________________________$ 243.60
- Western Digital 4.3 GB (Ultra DMA)______________$ 244.80
- Western Digital 5.1 GB (Ultra DMA)______________$ 245.10
- Western Digital 6.4 GB (Ultra DMA)______________$ 308.50
- QUANTUM Fireball 1.6 GB (Ultra DMA)_____________$ 166.50
- QUANTUM Fireball 2.1 GB (Ultra DMA)_____________$ 189.80
- QUANTUM Fireball 3.2 GB (Ultra DMA)_____________$ 199.60
- QUANTUM Fireball 4.3 GB (Ultra DMA)_____________$ 248.50
- QUANTUM Fireball 6.4 GB (Ultra DMA)_____________$ 348.90
- JTS Champion 2.0 GB_____________________________$ 149.00
- JTS Champion 2.5 GB_____________________________$ 176.80
- JTS Champion 3.0 GB_____________________________$ 190.50
VIDEO CARDS:
- DIAMOND 3D 2000, 2 MB EDO_______________________$ 68.70
- DIAMOND 3D 2000, 4 MB EDO_______________________$ 97.40
- DIAMOND 3D 3000, 2 MB VRAM______________________$ 123.60
- DIAMOND 3D 3000, 4 MB VRAM______________________$ 180.50
- TRIDENT 9680 PCI, 2 MB DRAM_____________________$ 33.20
- ATI All-In-Wonder, 4 MB DRAM____________________$ 220.30
- ATI 3D PRO TURBO PC2TV 8MB SGRAM________________$ 180.20
MONITORS:
- Digiview, 15", 0.28 mm, digital control_________$ 203.00
- Digiview, 17", 0.28 mm, on screen control_______$ 411.80
- Viewsonic Optiquest Q17, 17" 0.28 mm____________$ 467.40
- GOLDSTAR 17" .39 mm on digital control__________$ 299.00
MULTIMEDIA:
- MITSUMI 24X Internal CD ROM Drive_______________$ 73.20
- MITSUMI 16X CD ROM (up to 2.4 Mb/sec)___________$ 61.60
- MITSUMI 8X CD-ROM (1200 Kbps transfer rate)_____$ 58.60
- ESS 1868 PnP Sound Card Full Duplex_____________$ 25.00
- SoundBlaster AWE64 IDE PnP PC___________________$ 94.80
- SoundBlaster 16 IDE PC Sound Card_______________$ 42.40
- WAVE BW-115H Speaker System 180 Watts___________$ 29.99
- TURTLE BEACH 4X Full Multimedia Kit_____________$ 64.99
4X CD-ROM, Speakers, Sound Card, cables & instruction
Please visit our site for our complete catalog
and company information.
http://www.shoppingplanet.com
Or give us a call at 1-800-779-8461
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