Category: 8. Computer Related

Fans in PCs can be objectionably loud. In many cases, the amount of noise produced by the fan can be considerably reduced by lowering its speed. Although this will decrease the amount of cooling, this need not be a problem as long as you don’t go overboard with slowing down the fan. Particularly with older-model…

The aesthetics of ‘case modding’ (modifying a PC’s enclosure) offer plenty of scope for debate and plenty of scope for original circuits. Low current LED indicators are usually fitted in PC enclosures. Although this certainly saves energy, the LEDs do not light particularly brightly. It is not completely straightforward to replace the low-current types with…

Downloading and CD-burning programs usually provide the option of automatically shutting down the PC on completion of their tasks. However, this energy-saving feature is of little benefit if even after the PC has been switched off, all of the peripheral equipment remains connected to the mains and happily consumes watt-hours. The circuit shown here provides…

This converter may help if just the serial port on a personal computer is free, whereas the printer needs a parallel (Centronics) port. It converts a serial 2400 baud signal into a parallel signal. The TxD line, pin 3, CTS line, pin 8 and the DSR line, pin 6, of the serial port are used…

A CD-ROM drive can be used as a stand-alone unit for playing digital audio CDs without interfacing with a computer. The stereo output of CD player available at the audio jack can be amplified using audio input facility which is normally available on a tape-deck/tape-recorder or a stereo amplifier. Audio socket on front/rear of the…