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THE BATTALIC
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Computers a la carte
PCs can be less expensive, easier to upgrade if you piece them together yourself
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SciITech
The Battalion
7A • Thursday, April 17, 2003
Ever feel the need to make a
andwich while waiting for your
omputer to bring up a document
ion want? If the answer is yes, it’s
ime for an upgrade.
As spring cleaning nears and
tudents dust off their computers,
saw a fight of any s hey will most likely discover that
n't, you know, eve heir machines are out of date. The
TECH
Perspectiyes
Adam
Reed
ate at which technology is rendered obsolete is
incredible gisBnind-boggling, making computers bought two
and her vs /ears ago or two months ago out dated.
Once computer owners determine that they need
o replace their aging desktop PC, they must decide
day with friends,pa '''here to buy it. Many large companies such as
>elongings, salvar J atewa Y' Hewlett-Packard and Dell offer pre-built
.ystems featuring new technology and helpful war-
anties to cover problems. At first glance, these
nay appear to be the best — and only — solutions.
3ut that might not be the case.
To keep their computers stocked with the
lewest and fastest processors, hard drives and
, . „ . ither technologies, buyers are typically forced to
iters doused Hawn a new computer at full price from these
i water, causing cor w
aage. By Mondav.
three-story home
ith plywood,
in the basement, »I
vater damage, but®
x that live upstairs,Ik
thing,” she said. ]
companies. A more economical
approach would be to replace
individual components as they
become outdated.
Yet replacement of these parts
requires opening the computer
case, which violates the warranty
conditions on most pre-built com
puters. This does not bother some
users, who wouldn’t mind if they never had to do
more than plug the machine in and let it run. For
others — video game junkies and those who fancy
themselves tech savvy — a home-built machine
would be more efficient.
While building a computer might be too techni
cal and out of reach for some, those daring enough
to take on the task can follow a few simple steps
and be on their way to digital freedom in no time.
The first step is to determine the individual parts
that are needed. A typical PC includes a computer
case with power supply, video card, sound card,
motherboard, processor, memory and storage
devices such as hard drives or DVD-ROM drives.
Using a cost-comparison Web site such as
Pricewatch.com to find the lowest prices available
online for each component, buyers will be able to
save hundreds of dollars in lieu of expensive pre-
built computers. For example, a computer built to
match the hardware specifications of a Dimension
Desktop 8250, one of Dell’s best-selling computer
systems, costs almost $400 less than Dell’s base
price of $1,459 when using Pricewatch — includ
ing the cost of shipping.
The list of needed parts has recently become
much shorter with the introduction of multi-fea
tured motherboards such as NVIDIA’s nForce or
Intel’s i845G chipset. These reasonably-priced
units have onboard or integrated video, sound and
networking devices, saving the buyer money and
the trouble of installing the three extra components.
Step two, the building process, is reduced sig
nificantly with a feature-rich motherboard such as
the nForce. The builder can effortlessly fasten the
motherboard to the case with a few small screws
and then snap the processor and memory into clear
ly-labeled slots. CD-ROM drives and other mass
storage devices are then connected with IDE cables,
and the computer case is put back on.
While this process may seem oversimplified,
computer assembly has become less complicated
during past years. As the number of amateur com
puter builders has continued to increase, hardware
manufacturers have provided instruction manuals
with detailed pictures and a straightforward lan
guage that is easy to understand, even for novice
builders.
Third-party guides dealing with amateur com
puter work, from purchase to assembly, can be
found with a simple Google search for the phrase
“build your own PC.” Two recommended sites from
this list are AnandTech (www.anandtech.com) and
PC Mechanic (www.pcmech.com/byopc).
Computer building is not for everyone and
there is some risk involved. However, this risk is
comparable to the danger of cooking dinner rather
than letting a restaurant do the work. The recipe
and ingredients are available to everyone; the
determining factor is often whether the money
saved is worth the time. With just a little work, a
computer can last its owner a lifetime, without
costing a life’s savings.
loans victimize
mmigrants and
taxpayers who ant
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ettlement would Its
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hanged bytlieaptt
and chief erall' Photo courtesy OF The University OF Rennes
i the ,Compaq rt Micrograph of a pollen grain, about 30 micrometers across,
tiling and woul;*.
A\l
mKmsk
Photo court
aout 30 micr
brensics studies
ook to pollen
ts
the
en
us
ssle.
ender.
By Robert Stackhouse
THE BATTALION
Forensic palynology could be
ised to combat terrorism and aid
aw enforcement agencies in
riminal investigations, said Dr.
/aughn Bryant, Texas A&M pro-
essor and A&M Palynology lab-
iratory head.
Palynology is the study of
tollen grains and spores,
brensic palynology applies the
cience of pollen to matters of
aw.
The widespread nature of
tollen makes it an available factor
or any type of criminal investiga-
on, Bryant said. In cases where
inimal evidence is available,
ollen could be a critical piece of
e puzzle.
Essentially, because pollen is
o ubiquitous, pollen is going to
e found at any
rime scene. This
why I think what
I'e are doing in
ollen research is
ipplicable to foren-
ics,” Bryant said.
There is usually so
uch pollen in the
|ir that the average
Individual inhales
about 27,000
ollen grains on any given day
st by walking or working out-
loors. That’s why this technique
orks so well.”
Despite the ease in which a
ollen sample can be located at
e scene of a crime or on evi-
lence, forensic palynology is not
idely practiced. This valuable,
;et untapped resource is what
Bryant calls “the best kept secret
at forensics.”
A pollen sample taken as evi-
lence can tell investigators the
pecific locale of a crime as well
s the time of year it took place,
nd if evidence has been removed
rom its original location, said Dr.
)avid Jarzen, director of global
ducation at the Marie Selby
lotanical Gardens.
“Palynology can provide you
nth information as to location
nd season (that the event took
lace),” Jarzen said.
Palynology is the
best kept secret in
forensics.
— Dr. Vaughn Bryant
Texas A&M professor
r
v
Worship (Directory
Adventist
Cfmrcfi of Christ
tPentecostaC
Seventh Day Adventist
1218 Ettle St., Bryan (corner of Coulter)
775-4362
Pastor Bill Davis
Saturday 8:15am- Spanish Worship
English - 11:00 am
Sabbath School - 9:45 am
(Baptist
Parkway Baptist Church
1501 Southwest Pkwy
(979) 693-4701
Sunday Worship 8:15 10:45 & 6PM
Sunday School 9:30 AM
Wednesday: Meal 5:30PM
College Bible Study Wed. 6:30PM
www.pbccs.org
A&M Church of Christ
1901 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy.
(979)693-0400
Sunday Assemblies:
8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.,
College Bible Class 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Night: 5:45 p.m.
Mid-Week 7:00 p.m.
Aggies for Christ
Call for on-campus pick-up info
www.aggiesforchrist.org
i? ' Victory ' r
United Pentecostal Church
Sunday 2:00 p.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
1808 - H Brothers
(behind the C.S. Wal-Mart)
764-4180
(Presbyterian
■ - ■
‘Episcopal
Forensic palynology can also
be a useful tool for law enforce
ment, said Dr. John Shane, direc
tor of research at the McCrone
Research Institute.
“You can analyze the pollen
and spore content of a piece of
clothing or stored items to deter
mine their history,” Shane said.
“We’ve looked at the pollen and
spore content of counterfeit
money to determine its origin.”
Pollen analysis has been used
to determine if honey has been
illegally imported from countries
outside North America through
Mexico under the auspices of the
NAFTA agreement, Shane said.
Pollen, in its abundance, is a
cheap medium for the dispersal of
biological weapons, such as
viruses or bacteria, Shane said.
Palynology can also be used to
fight terrorism by determining the
origin of manufacture of such
biological weapons, he said.
Research into
forensic palynolo
gy is getting off to
a slow start, how
ever. The small
number of labs
performing work
in forensic paly
nology is a result
of the small num
ber of palynolo-
gists in practice
and the even smaller fraction of
these who want to be involved in
forensics, Shane said.
But palynology has a high
degree of reliability, thanks to the
use of scanning electron micro
scopes, Jarzen said.
Pollen evidence is as good as
any other form of evidence, but it
takes carefully implemented pre
cautionary measures to ensure
this evidence remains viable in
court proceedings, Bryant said.
Pollen samples must be very
closely monitored and safeguard
ed against contamination to main
tain their integrity.
Because pollen techniques
have not been traditionally used
in proceedings, most people are
unaware of how effective pollen
can be, Bryant said.
“I believe...it will take a high
profile case for (palynology’s
effectiveness) to gain national
attention,” he said.
Fellowship Free Will
Baptist Church
College & Career Class
You are invited to a Bible Study
especially for students.
Sunday mornings at 9:45
Wednesday night supper at 5:30,
followed by Bible Study at 6:30
1228 W. Villa Maria
779-2297
For more information contact
Marcus Brewer: 731-1890
m-brewer@tamu.edu
httpy/www.fellowshiplwb.ora
St. Thomas Episcopal
906 George Bush Dr. • College Station, TX
696-1726
Services - 8:00 (Rite 1), 9:0O(Family Service Rite II)
& 11:15 (Rite ll-for late sleeping Ags)
7:30 p.m. Evensong
Next door to Canterbury House,
the EDisooal Student Center
(S[pn-(DenominationaC
First Baptist Church
UNIVERSITY MINISTRY
2300 Welsh Ave. • College Station
SUNDAY:
8:30 & 10:55-Worship Services
9:45-Bible Study
WEDNESDAY:
7:00 p.m.-Bible Study
Calvary Chapel
AGGIELAND
A Non-denominational church that
teaches God's Word verso by verse.
Contemporary praise & worship
Como as you are - casual atmosphere
Currently meeting at:
The Warehouse
1601 Groesbeck in Bryan
just off 2818 north of campus
Currently studying the Book of Acts
Services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday
Pttlar Jiff Hajhii '95
(979)324-3972 www.aggieland.ee
Uj Covenant
’nTfi Presbyterian Church
220 Rock Prairie Road
WELCOME STUDENTS
Palm Sunday, April 13
“Come to the Table”
Choir and Bells Cantata
Sunday Service: 8:30 & 11 a.m.
Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.
April 14-18
Holy Week Services
12:00 Noon Worship and Lunch
Mon., Tues., & Wed.
Maundy Thursday
Supper 6:00 p.m. Worship 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday
Worship and Lunch 12:00 Noon
Easter Egg Hunt for Children
Saturday, April 19 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Sam W. Steele, Minister
694-7700
www. cove n an tp resbyte r i an. o rg
Cathode
K St. Mary’s
Catholic Center
603 Church Avenue in Northgate
(979)846-5717
www.aaaiecatholic.org
Pastoral Team
Rev. Michael J. Sis, Pastor
Rev. Keith Koehl, Associate Pastor
- Campus Ministers -
Deacon Bill Scott, Deacon David Reed, Martha
Tonn, Jullie Mendonca
Dawn Rouen, Roel Garza
Daily Masses
Mon.-Fri.: 5:30 p.m. in the Church
Holy Thursday, April 17
Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:00pm
Good Friday, April 18
Stations of the Cross (Spanish) 12:00 noon
Stations of the Cross (English) 3:00 p.m.
Passion of the Lord Service 7:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday, April 19
Easter Vigil 8:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 20
9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Christian
(S[pn-(Denominationai
communityCHURCH
SUNDAYS:
Prayer Service @ 10 a.m.
Worship @ 11 a.m.
Meeting in Oakwood
Intermediate School
106 HOLIK STREET
JUST OFF GEORGE BUSH
Behind the College Station
Conference Center
FOLLOW THE SIGNS!
Small Groups
Meet Weekly
wvvw.COrnCHURCHxom
260-1163
(PentecostoC
1 F,RST
1 PRESBYTERIAN
f CHURCH
1 Helping Aggies grow in faith
I New Fall Hours:
II Worship 8:30, 11:00 a.m.
II Church School 9:30
p Fellowship on the Patio 10:30
^ 1100 Carter Creek Parkway
www.f peb ryan.org
United (Methodist
A&M United Methodist
417 University Dr. (in Northgate) • 846-8731
Sunday Worship: 8:30, 9:45, 10:50
College Sunday School: 9:30,10:45
Sr. Pastor Dr. Jerry Neff
www.am-umc.org
First Christian Church
900 South Ennis, Bryan
823-5451
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Morning Worship 10:45 a.m.
Robert D. Chandler, Minister
Cornerstone Church
1 Mid Week Small Group Meetings
1 Sunday Service at 3:00pm on George Bush,
just across from campus at the
College Station Conference Center.
485-8744
“I need it real. I need it relevant,
I need it within community.”
CELEBRATION
WORSHIP
at
First United
Methodist Church
• Powerful Praise
• Solid Scripture
• and Real Families
Come see what’s worth celebrating
11:00 a.m.
in the Christian Life Center
On 27 ,h Street, 2 blocks east
of Texas Avenue in Bryan
779-1324