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Q: Can my old memory run with my new memory?
A: There is no guarantee that older memory will work properly with new memory. Older memory tends to have a different voltage, different pin socket, or different MHz speeds. Memory that looks the same, doesnt necessarily mean that it IS the same either. You can send an email to your memory manufacturer to inquire about your memory model number.
Q: Is MacIntosh memory the same as PC memory?
A: PC memory is not the same as MAC memory. Even though both currently use DIMM sockets, they are still designed differently and are not compatible. You can damage your MAC/PC if you decide to put the wrong type of memory into your system. Update: Most G3 and newer MACs do use identical memory to what is commonly found in PCs
Q: Are all memory the same?
A: There are many different types of memory currently in the market. Never buy memory that is slower than the memory you already have in your system. Like a modem, memory will find the slowest speed setting amongst the memory pieces and transfer data at that speed.
Q: Would you recommend upgrading my 486, Pentium, or Pentium II computer? or just purchase a new system?
A: Upgrading a system in this age range would be very pointless. An economic system costs a mere $500 dollars. Older components can be found in used computer store that offer these rare components for prices that rival new (faster, better) component prices.
Q: Will my graphics card go faster if I have more video RAM?
A: No. More memory in a graphics card will only allow you to adjust your resolution settings higher and view more colours.
Q: Will my system go faster if I have more than 64MB of system RAM?
A: Older computer systems are not able to handle more than 64MB of memory because they are not able to cache that much system memory. Some of the older computers SLOW DOWN because they has too much memory. More recent processors up to the Intel® Pentium® IIIII processors can handle up to 512MB of memory before it is unable to cache that much memory.
Q: Can I upgrade my Intel® Pentium® II (233/266/300/333) MHz processor to 350/400/450MHz?
A: These processors made by Intel® run at a different bus speed than the newer processors. If the motherboard and memory are able to run at a bus speed of 100MHz, it would be possible to upgrade just the processor.
Q: What is currently the fastest processor in the market?
A: The best way to find out the latest and greatest information would be to check the independent review websites that are throughout the internet. These sites tend not to biased and give more accurate reviews. (unbiased: one of the reasons why we do not review processors)
Q: What is the difference if I build a system myself and have PrimeTime build it?
A: One of the defining differences is that a system built by PrimeTime comes with three years of labour warranty. Technicians at PrimeTime are familiar with components and are capable of setting up and configuring the today's hardware, as well as yesterday's.
Q: Why is labour warranty so important?
A: Sometimes, when you have a mechanic repair your car, the mechanic's labour fee can be almost as expensive as the components itself. Troubleshooting, installation, un-installation, even testing requires the time of our technicians; and the labour fees can add up. Labour warranty doesnt sound too important, but it can save you a lot of problems and headaches in the long run.
Q: Do I need the fastest/biggest/greatest system out in the market?
A: Odds are no. There is no need to get the latest and greatest because the best computer products often are the most expensive items. We recommend to the customers to buy what they need, not what they want. You can buy what you want, but you'll never use all its functions. Buy what you need instead of the latest and greatest. When customers feel they need to upgrade, that upgrade will be worth its amount because the customer would know what they're paying for, and where the money is going.
Q: What is the deal with the mail-in rebates? Why cant PrimeTime just give me cash back?
A: Mail-in rebates are offered by the product's manufacturer and are not affiliated by PrimeTime in any way. PrimeTime currently does not offer any type of cash back or rebates for the customers. PrimeTime is not capable of getting the mail-in rebate because these rebates are offered to the end-user (the customer); manufacturers wont give the rebate to the resellers. =( If you do have questions regarding manufacturer mail-in rebates, the best way is to contact the manufacturer.
Q: What does SDRAM stand for and what does it do?
A: SDRAM stands for Synchronous DRAM. SDRAM is the memory that the system uses. Normally, the more memory you have, the less it will access the hard drive; making the routine procedures run faster.
Q: Why is the fan constantly running on the back of the computer?
A: The fan on the back of the computer is the power supply fan. Systems -and power supplies- get hot and require a method to vent the hot air out. The fan is there to keep the system cool. Additional and better fans can be purchased to keep your system even cooler.
Q: What does FSB (Front side bus) mean?
A: Front side bus is a speed that motherboard or memory operates at. Most motherboards made in '97 were 66MHz. Newer motherboards, motherboards made in the late '97 had the ability to go at 100MHz FSB. Current motherboards now operate between 100MHz and 133MHz while newer boards are able to go beyond that.
Q: What type of anti-virus software should I use?
A: Any reputable anti-virus software works fine providing they have regular updates. Make sure you download a well-known anti-virus; they tend to have better support if you have any problems.
Q: The modem cord that came with my computer is too short. Is there a special type of extension cable I need to buy?
A: A modem operates the same way as a regular telephone does. If you have a phone cord that normally plugs into the phone, you can use it for the modem itself.
Q: I would like to (re)install an operating system into my system, does PrimeTime technicians offer any support?
A: PrimeTime's technicians do not offer any support on installing any types of software. If you need an operating system installed, please make an appointment to look at your system.
Q: What is the advantage of a surge protector and do I need it?
A: A surge protector keeps your system safe from unexpected surges from the wall outlets. Surges are capable of burning out components. Having a surge protector tends to reduce the chances of having hardware problems occur in your computer. Problems cause down-time and if you depend on your computer, its a good idea to have a surge protector to reduce the chances.
Q: Can I put my computer on a local area network?
A: If your system has a network interface card (NIC), you can configure your system to run in a local area network.
Q: What sort of maintenance should I keep mind to ensure my computer runs smoothly?
A: Keep your computer in a cool, dust-free environment. Dust is able to clog up power supply fans, processor fans, case fans, etc. It's good to clean the inside of your system regularly if the computer's environment is not clean.
Q: How do I clean my mouse?
A: Turn off your computer and disconnect your mouse. Turn the mouse upside down and twist off the retainer to let the ball drop out of the mouse. Blow out any dust from the ball chamber inside the mouse using a can of compressed air. Run your finger over the rollers inside the mouse. If the rollers seem grimy, wipe them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Use a toothpick or non-metal object to remove any large chunks of dirt. You can clean the rubber ball with mild detergent, rinse it thoroughly and let it dry completely before putting it back into the mouse. Reassemble the mouse, plug it back into the system and you can turn on your system again.
Q: Why does my floppy drive make noise when I start my computer?
A: A computer system normally checks the first drive, drive A, to see whether it needs to access bootup information from it.
Q: What does degaussing do to my monitor?
A: Degaussing demagnetizes the monitor screen from magnetic fields. Degaussing a screen prevents your monitor from discoloration, however degaussing your monitor on a frequent basis also damages the monitor.
Q: Can I use the headphone jack for a microphone?
A: A headphone jack is for sound output; it is incapable of sound input. If you wish to input sound into the system, you would need to find the microphone in jack in either the modem or sound card.
Q: How do I adjust my speaker volume?
A: You can adjust the volume by adjusting the volume knobs on either the speakers, sound card itself (only on certain models), or in the operating system. If you are using Win95 or Win98, you can double click the yellow speaker icon found on the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
Q: Is my modem v90 compliant?
A: Yes, all modems sold from PrimeTime are v90 compliant. There are currently no modem manufacturers in the market that produce modems that are not v90 compliant.
Q: The modem cord that came with my computer is too short. Is there a special type of extension cable I need to buy?
A: A modem operates the same way as a regular telephone does. If you have a phone cord that normally plugs into the phone, you can use it for the modem itself.
Q: What is USB?
A: USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. USB devices transfer data faster and are not as difficult to setup as other serial/SCSI/parallel devices. USB devices also tend to be compatible with MAC systems. USB devices are becoming quite popular, and if you have a USB port, getting a USB device can be better for you in the long run. Ask your sales representatives for more information.
Q: My hard disk is a smaller size than I thought I had purchased. Where is the missing space I paid for?
A: The operating system reports the capacity of the hard drive. Windows™ assumes that 1MB is the equivalence of 1,048,576 bytes of data. The hard drive manufacturers considers 1MB to be equal to 1,000,000 bytes. If you buy a 6.4GB hard drive and Windows™ shows your hard drive containing 6.2GB, this is normal.
Q: How do I adjust my speakers volume?
A: You can adjust the volume by adjusting the volume knobs on either the speakers, sound card itself (only on certain models), or in the operating system itself. If you are using Win95 or Win98, you can double click the yellow speaker icon found on the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
Q: Where do I download current drivers or updates?
A: Updates for Microsoft™ Windows® 95/98 can be downloaded from their website. New drivers can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website, or from specific update sites that can be found in our [Resources] section.
Q: Why is there a "Log Off" option on my Start menu? Am I on a network?
A: Normally, PrimeTime systems are installed with some network functions enabled. The reason why there is a "Log Off" function is so that there can be different users who use the same computer. Each person can customize the settings and Windows™ will remember each user.
Q: Why cant all PrimeTime systems run Linux? Why is there so little support?
A: A lot of the manufacturers do not offer driver support for Linux. Currently Linux is an alternative operating system that doesn't have as much hardware support as Microsoft™'s operating systems. A number of PrimeTime's systems are designed for Windows™, making it inoperable in any other types of operating systems. If you are looking to purchase a system specifically for the Linux operating system, make sure you check to see that each individual component has Linux drivers from the manufacturer.
Q: Why does my Pentium® III processor show up as a Pentium® II processor within Windows 95/98?
A: Intel®'s Pentium® III processor was designed after Microsoft™ Windows™ 98 released. Windows™ 98 will see the Pentium® III & Pentium® II as the same thing, however there wont be degradation in regards to your actual speed. It doesnt matter if the software reads the processor as a Pentium® III, it matters what the mainboard reads it as. Microsoft™ Windows™ 98 Second Edition recognizes this problem and has already fixed this problem.
Q: What is DirectX™ and do I need it?
A: Microsoft™'s DirectX™ is an array of drivers, software, and runtime drivers designed to allow your system to run DirectX™-specific games. You can goto their website from [here]. Windows™ 98 SE comes with DirectX™ 6.0 already installed, however you can download updates from their website.
Q: My DVD rom drive isn't playing DVD movies
A: Most DVD ROM drives are not bundled with software to view DVD movies. You can either purchase 3rd party software or download free/shareware software from the internet.
Q: Is my computer system secure when I'm on the internet?
A: No company can guarantee absolute security. One way to keep your system secure is to regularly update your operating system's security with updates provided by your operating system manufacturer (ie. Microsoft).
Q: What is spamming and does it affect me?
A: Spam is the electronic equivalence to junk mail; unsolicited mail from companies that has gotten --sometimes purchased-- your email address. Lately spam has also been referred to as chain mail; mail that urges you to "send the same message to all your friends and contacts". Spam is a problem and money lost from spam always comes from the consumer.
Q: My CDROM isnt reading CDs, what could be the problem?
A: If you have installed the CDROM itself, make sure the drive has been installed properly. If your CDROM is reading some CDs and not able to read others, it may be necessary to clean your CDROM. You can purchase a CDROM cleaner from most stores. If you are unable to read copied CDs, please understand that no CDROM drive can read every single copied CD disk. At the moment, no CDROM company will guarantee it will work with all copied CDs.
Q: Why wont my CDROM work when I "Restart in MS-DOS MODE"?
A: Windows™ uses its own CDROM drivers thus does not need any type of installation to have the drive working. Going into MS-DOS mode means you are leaving Windows™ and require MS-DOS based drivers for your CD/DVDROM drive.
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