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| | | PC World - 2:45AM (PC World)If you want to anger a PC hardware nerd, just use the incorrect nomenclature when referring to the clock–err–transfer rate of a computer’s RAM subsystem.
Example: If a PC has 32GB of DDR5/4800 and you say the RAM is running at 4,800MHz, you’ll immediately hear a million nerds suddenly cry out in unison: “It’S NoT MeGaHeRtZ!!!”
That shriek has apparently finally caught the ear of Microsoft, because the company looks to be ready to use the correct nomenclature in Windows Task Manager when referring to the system’s RAM. You can see the current verbiage travesty in the screenshot below of a laptop outfitted with 16GB of LPDDR3/2133 RAM where it’s called 2133MHz in Windows 11! Oh the humanity!
Microsoft will shift from using megahertz to megatransfers to describe system RAM which makes nerds mad.
Microsoft will shift from using megahertz to megatransfers to describe system RAM which makes nerds mad.
Gordon Mah Ung
Microsoft will shift from using megahertz to megatransfers to describe system RAM which makes nerds mad.
Gordon Mah Ung
Gordon Mah Ung
Going forward, that will change to the more correct “megatransfers per second,” according to a post on X.com by frequent Windows preview sleuth @phantomofearth and picked up by BleepingComputer. According to the post, Windows 11 beta preview 22635.3570 has the feature already, although it’s not enabled yet by default. Fear not angry nerds, if you can’t stand that Windows 11 uses the incorrect megahertz term, you can enable it using ViveTool on the beta build, BleepingComputer notes.
Who the hell cares?
You’re probably wondering why nerds get so aggro over it, but the reason is technical accuracy. The debate goes all the way back to the early days of PCs when single data rate SDRAM transferred a single bit per clock cycle using the good old 66MHz or 100MHz.
get windows 11 pro for cheap
Windows 11 Pro
When DDR SDRAM was released in 2000, it introduced the ability to transfer data on both the rise and fall of a single clock, which meant a DDR/400 module transferred more data but its actual internal clock speed was half that, at 200MHz.
As we moved to DDR2, DDR3, and so on, methods were developed to increase bandwidth by pre-fetching additional data while the actual clock rates remained mostly the same. Today’s DDR5, for example, transfers 16-bits per clock cycle compared to DDR’s 2-bits per cycle, all while the clocks have remained relatively similar.
And despite the impressive 3,200 mega transfers per second of a DDR4/3200 module over DDR/400’s 400 mega transfers per second, both modules’ internal clock speeds are actually the same 200MHz. To make it more confusing, there’s also the bus clock (or IO clock speed) of the modules, which is usually half the module’s typical stated transfer speed. That means even if you meant to refer to a DDR5/4800 by its IO clock, it’s still not even close.
So you can see, the clock speed of modern RAM is nowhere close to say, 4,800MHz for a DDR5/4800 module, which is why you get brow beaten like Linus Tech Tips was by respected analyst (and friend of PCWorld’s Full Nerd Podcast) Dr. Ian Cutress.
With even the all-powerful Microsoft finally adopting megatransfers per second as the correct nomenclature to use when discussing a PC’s RAM, we’ve finally settled the debate forever. Now we can all agree MT/s is the correct way to discuss this topic without triggering the nerd brigade anymore. Right?
Sure.
Windows Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 2:45AM (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsCompact form factor; fits easily in a gear bagOne of the few USB-C hubs with VGA supportConsInability to connect at required performance levelsStreaming performance stuttered considerablyVGA displays are a niche marketVGA-Ethernet spacing feels too closeA little pricyOur VerdictToo many things go wrong for the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station for us to recommend it: It’s a niche product with performance issues.
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The Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station is a mouthful of words. But the message here is that this hub is for someone with a legacy display that they’re just not willing to part with, while offering a path to more modern hardware. Unfortunately, after testing, I found that this hub just doesn’t deliver on what it promises.
It’s an odd combination: On one hand, the dock supports a 4K display at up to 60Hz. On the other, there’s support for the ancient VGA specification, which harkens back to the 480p days. And, of course, there are a number of ports in between. Like Satechi’s Surface Pro hub, Monoprice’s hub is a niche offering. We’ll consider it for our list of the best USB-C hubs and dongles regardless.
Monoprice says that this docking station will support up to one 4K display running at 30Hz, and another at 1080p, at 60Hz. If only one 4K display is connected, it will run at 60Hz. You can simultaneously connect a 4K display at 30Hz, plus a 4K display (but at 1080p, 30Hz) as well as the VGA monitor, according to Monoprice. As Monoprice sent us a very similar USB-C hub/dock for review last year, I expected the performance and capabilities to be similar.
Let’s dive into it. Monoprice calls this a “docking station,” but it’s a fairly standard dongle with a 6-inch USB-C cable built into the device itself. There’s a 3.5mm headphone/mic jack at the cable end of the dongle. On the other end is a gigabit Ethernet port and the VGA port. Along one side are two 5Gbps USB-A ports, plus an SD/microSD card reader (with card support up to 512GB and rated read/write speeds of 104MB/s and 80MB/s, which implies UHS-I U3 speeds.) On the other side are two undisclosed HDMI ports and a USB-C (PD 3.0) power intake for a USB-C charger that can support 100W of input power.
A pair of HDMI ports, a 480Mbps USB-A port, and a USB-C power input are on the front of the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station.
A pair of HDMI ports, a 480Mbps USB-A port, and a USB-C power input are on the front of the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station.Mark Hachman / IDG
A pair of HDMI ports, a 480Mbps USB-A port, and a USB-C power input are on the front of the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
There are also two 480Mbps USB-A ports, one on either side, with a small icon (a keyboard and mouse) to show that they’re for legacy devices. I rather like that approach. Don’t expect any of the ports to deliver a great deal of power, though, even with a charger connected to the input port: The fastest USB ports are rated at 4.5W, and the other ports even less.
Again, this is essentially a USB-C dongle; it measures 4.8 x 2.1 x 0.7 inches, which slips easily into a backpack or laptop bag. The weight is about a third of a pound. At $45 or so, it’s about double the price of other dongles, which can run about $25. But it’s a nicely made hub/dock, made of aluminum.
The Ethernet and the VGA port on the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station are spaced closely together.
The Ethernet and the VGA port on the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station are spaced closely together.Mark Hachman / IDG
The Ethernet and the VGA port on the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station are spaced closely together.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station performance
Monoprice’s docking station is awkward only in the fact that it supports a fairly cutting-edge 4K60 display but also an ancient VGA monitor. There’s another wrinkle: Laptops that are too old lack some of the multimonitor capabilities that this dock enables — so anything older than a 10th-gen Core should be a bad bet. If you have an older VGA display, chances are your laptop isn’t cutting edge, either.
The hub’s port spacing is just fine, but I’m less sure about the VGA/Ethernet arrangement. Given the space that a VGA connector requires — remember, there are often retaining screws on the side — it might just crowd out the Ethernet jack next to it. I’m going to trust Monoprice got it right here, but I can’t guarantee it with all VGA cables. I have to admit that I don’t have a VGA display to test — we’ve moved on to more advanced connectors. Of course, if fit is a problem, Wi-Fi is an option.
Three USB ports and an SD/microSD card slot are on the back of the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station.
Three USB ports and an SD/microSD card slot are on the back of the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station.Mark Hachman / IDG
Three USB ports and an SD/microSD card slot are on the back of the Monoprice 12-in-1 USB-C to Dual-HDMI+VGA Triple Display Docking Station.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Monoprice 12-in-1 hub delivered the expected power levels.
This hub also requires a bit of fiddling. The hub’s manual says that the “HDMI 1” port supports a single external 4K display at 60Hz, but doesn’t explicitly label it on the dock/hub itself. (It’s the one further away from the outside of the port.) If you connect to the wrong port, you’ll get a more fatiguing 30Hz (4K30) refresh rate instead. And if you connect both HDMI ports, one will deliver a 4K30 picture, and the other will deliver 1080p at 60Hz. Can this dongle support one HDMI display and then the VGA monitor? Yes it can, at those refresh rates.
I couldn’t get consistent performance out of the Monoprice hub, however. One test laptop (a 13th-gen Intel Core-based Samsung Galaxy Book Ultra) powered a single 4K display at 60Hz, once. Another, an Asus laptop with a 14th-gen Intel Core Ultra inside, only powered that display at 30Hz.
Was I crazy? I tried again, and the hub produced only a 30Hz signal again with other ports. I swapped cables and ports, just to check. Finally, I tried the older Monoprice hub — identical but for a DisplayPort port instead of a VGA port, with the same cable, the same port, and the same display. The older Monoprice hub delivered 60Hz on my 4K display, and the latest hub we review here produced just 30Hz. That did it for me.
Furthermore, the latest 12-in-1 hub (VGA) dropped about 40 percent of all 4K frames streamed over the internet, producing stutters and hitches all over the place. The older hub — again, on a single 4K display, and on Wi-Fi — basically dropped none at all.
Monoprice’s hub is otherwise well-designed. But the disparity between accommodating the older VGA hardware with a relatively new notebook strikes me as slightly strange. Add to that the odd performance glitches, plus the somewhat premium price, and I can’t recommend this hub at all.
Computer Accessories Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 2:25AM (PC World)Having a bunch of monitors is great — I don’t feel like I’m really working if I can’t see at least ten megapixels of virtual space at once. But getting the monitors is only half the story, at least if you want a tidy desktop. You want monitor arms to get them at the right height and keep your desk space open. Today Amazon has a triple monitor mount at a truly insane discount, just $49.49.
The triple-arm setup comes from Huanuo, a well-known budget brand, and works with all standard 100mm VESA mounts. (That’s the usual rear connection for anything smaller than a TV.) And because we’re dealing with a lot of space and weight on that center column, the left and right arms come with three segments instead of the usual two, with four points of articulation and height adjustment in both the center column and the left and right gas springs. You can use a clamp mount or a bolt that goes right through the desk (or a pre-cut cable hole, if you’re lucky).
I’ve used one of these all-in-one triple mounts before. It’s great for getting the look and reducing the amount of actual hardware on your desk, but take a bit of advice. When the listing says “up to 27 inches,” it’s not kidding. I’ve tried to use a similar one with a 24-32-24 setup, and it had juuuuuust enough space to be kinda-sorta-okay. When I transitioned to a 34-inch center monitor, it just couldn’t handle the horizontal spacing, and I had to switch to three separate mounts. So I wouldn’t use this if any one of your monitors is larger than 27 inches.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
There are three parts to this deal, spotted by the users over at SlickDeals, so listen up. First is Amazon’s regular 25 percent discount, which brings the sticker price from $119.99 to $89.99. Then there’s the “coupon” on the listing page — make sure to click it to get an additional $18 off, for a price of $71.99. Finally, enter the additional code VW3QQEXV at the checkout screen for a final $22 discount, bringing the price down to $49.49. That’s a total discount of $70.50. Freakin’ sweet.
You can check out our roundup of the best monitor arms if you want more options, but don’t expect to find any deals this steep there.
Get a triple monitor VESA mount for $49.49 at Amazon — check the steps above
Monitors Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 1:05AM (PC World)When you share a PDF document, you might not want all the information it contains to be visible. Here’s how to simply redact parts of a PDF.
While premium PDF editors include this feature, the easiest way to redact is to use the free PDF tools from PDF24. Go to https://tools.pdf24.org in your browser and then click on the “Redact PDF” checkbox.
On the following page, click on “Select PDF,” select the PDF file in Explorer and click on “Open.” As soon as the PDF is loaded, first select the page on which the area you want to cover is located in the small toolbar at the top left.
Now click on the “Add shape” icon in the toolbar and select a shape that can completely cover the area. The PDF tools will now display a corresponding black graphic. Drag and drop it over your area with the mouse and adjust its size using the handles on the sides.
Further reading: The best PDF editors
With the free PDF tools, you can cover individual areas on the pages of a PDF document with colored areas and thus make them unrecognizable. After saving, however, you will no longer be able to click on the links contained in the document.
With the free PDF tools, you can cover individual areas on the pages of a PDF document with colored areas and thus make them unrecognizable. After saving, however, you will no longer be able to click on the links contained in the document.
Foundry
With the free PDF tools, you can cover individual areas on the pages of a PDF document with colored areas and thus make them unrecognizable. After saving, however, you will no longer be able to click on the links contained in the document.
Foundry
Foundry
If you want to signal to the recipient of the PDF that some passages have been deliberately made unrecognizable, leave the black area as it is. Otherwise you can also set a different color:
To do this, click on “Set fill color” in the toolbar and select a suitable shade in the following selection window using the color bar on the right-hand side and by moving the small, black dot in the colored rectangle.
For example, you will find the color white in the top left-hand corner. Click on “choose” to apply the color. If you also want to change the black borders, click on “Set line color” in the toolbar.
Finally, scroll down and click on “Save PDF.” This may take a moment. Then continue by clicking on “Download.” The PDF tools save the edited file in the download folder of your browser.
Please note: When editing, the page is inserted into your PDF document as an image. Any existing links on this page can no longer be clicked on.
Further reading: PDF24 Creator review
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
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