Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) is a program in which previously used Windows licenses have been deactivated and are now being used again.
Some of these are already labelled. However, compared to the new versions, no compromises are made in terms of functionality and the like.
The MAR variant is a low-cost alternative to conventional licenses and is available on request.
In another article, we have already looked at the difference between HDD and SSD as well as the advantages and disadvantages. Now let’s go into more detail and introduce different types of SSD.
The terms SLC, MLC and TLC refer to the type of SSD memory. They indicate how many bits are written per memory cell on an SSD.
SLC stands for “Single Level Cell”. As the name suggests, an SLC cell stores exactly one bit. MLC stands for “Multi Level Cell” and means that more than one bit is stored per cell. This is usually two bits per cell, as TLC (“Triple Level Cell”) has now also been developed, with three bits per memory cell.
Of these three types, single level cells have the highest read and write speed. They also require less power, are more durable, more robust and suitable for an extended temperature range. However, they only have a relatively small memory and are comparatively expensive. Multi-level cell SSDs, on the other hand, have a higher storage density and can therefore store a considerably larger volume of data.
MLC and TLC SSDs are often criticized for not being durable enough. Since more information is stored per cell, wear is higher than with SLCs. For comparison: While manufacturers often specify a service life of 100,000 write cycles for single level cells, triple level cells only last for 1,000 write operations. MLCs are around 5,000 to 10,000 cycles.
This sounds comparatively low, but is usually absolutely sufficient. Thanks to technologies such as wear leveling, almost nobody has to worry about the durability of their SSD these days.
Wear leveling (literally: “wear compensation”) is used to extend the service life of an SSD – a technology that is often integrated into SSDs. An algorithm is used to distribute the write operations so that all memory cells are written to equally often and the SSD wears out evenly.
This technique also distinguishes between dynamic and static wear leveling. The former only distributes dynamic data, i.e. data that changes when something is deleted and something else is saved. To prevent some cells from being written to only once while others are already failing, static wear leveling also moves static data to other blocks. The dynamic variant is often found in USB sticks, while static wear leveling is usually used for SSDs.
spo-comm offers Multi Level Cell SSDs in various sizes as standard, as these offer a high storage volume at a suitable price-performance ratio. Some PCs (such as the WINDBOX or RUGGED series) can also be ordered with a 16 or 32 gigabyte SLC SSD. These are suitable for an extended temperature range of -40 to 85 degrees, but – despite the lower storage density – are priced somewhat higher.
In the near future, mini PCs will be introduced that are considerably smaller while offering comparable performance. Thanks to new manufacturing technologies, not only is the size of important components such as the CPU reduced, they also consume less power. This enables smaller fans or heat sinks and consequently smaller housings. The disadvantage: there is less space for connections.
The HDMI 2.0, Display Port 1.2 and higher standards are increasingly being introduced in new systems. This means that there are numerous models, particularly among the mini PCs for the digital signage market, that can display UHD films and animations without any problems.
From 2017, new systems will be equipped with DDR4 memory. In addition to the higher clock rate, the maximum memory capacity of the RAM modules is also increased. Mini-PCs in the medium to high performance class can then address up to 32 gigabytes of RAM.
Plug connections that are exposed to mechanical influences can easily come loose without additional protection. This is why the traditional DB9, DVI and VGA connections are still popular, as they can be secured with two screws. With newer standards, it is more difficult, as the respective design guidelines rarely include a backup option. This is changing with the USB connection, for which the first screw-on connectors have been defined in the Type C standard. s po-comm also tries to offer secure connections for as many systems and connections as possible. Various systems are now equipped with screw-on power supply units.
The WINDBOX II Quad is the first spo-comm PC to be equipped with 4 gigabytes of RAM as standard. The price remains the same.
Configure your WINDBOX II Quad
Tablets or handhelds with a fully-fledged Microsoft operating system are increasingly being offered not only in the area of consumer devices (e.g. Microsoft Surface Pro), but also in the commercial environment. The advantage is obvious: no independent apps need to be developed. Instead, the ERP, CRM or PPS systems used in the companies can be installed and used directly.
The abbreviation “RAM” stands for “random access memory”, which is often also referred to as “direct access memory”. With this type of memory, access to each individual memory cell is possible, while other types, such as flash, only store in blocks. In contrast to the hard disk, RAM is a volatile (semiconductor) memory. This means that as soon as the power supply is switched off, all data is lost.
While hard disks can store large amounts of data over a long period of time, RAM stores small amounts for a short time. It works at a much higher speed: the read and write process is up to 250 times faster than with SSDs, and the access time is up to 120,000 times faster. Due to its speed, RAM is usually used as working memory. The two terms are therefore used synonymously.
The memory is located on the RAM modules in the form of chips. More gigabytes of RAM therefore means more memory chips on the RAM bar. Nowadays, the modules generally have 2 to 64 gigabytes of RAM.
The working memory serves as a short-term buffer for the CPU. The operating system, Internet browser and other data on which changes or calculations are made are temporarily stored in it. For example, the processor also loads texts, images and videos into RAM so that they can be displayed and edited quickly. The data is only saved to the hard disk or SSD when it is saved.
To find this out, you first need the serial number of the warranty seal beginning with “SB”, which can usually be found on the underside of the PC. This allows you to assign the system to the delivery bill and match the time of purchase with the warranty period (standard warranty is two years, extended warranties up to five years).
If you do not have the corresponding delivery bill to hand, you are welcome to contact us by e-mail or telephone. We will then check the warranty period and help you with the next steps.
This variant is the most common cooling solution. Active cooling of a PC is when the hardware is cooled by one or more fans via an airflow. The faster the fan speed, the cooler the hardware. Thanks to “SmartFan”, the ventilation adapts to the PC’s workload and rotates faster or slower as required.
Active cooling usually makes sense for a PC if the surroundings of the place of use allow exhaust air to circulate so that no heat build-up occurs. This is the case, for example, when an embedded PC is installed in racks, cabinets, tables and the like. Active cooling is also useful when resource-hungry applications, such as in the digital signage sector, cause the processor and graphics chips to experience an above-average rise in temperature.
The most striking difference to active cooling is that a passive solution does not use a fan. Heat sinks built into the system, such as heat-conducting metal, dissipate the heat generated to the outside via fin-like cooling fins on the PC housing.
There are so many possibilities here that we don’t really know where to start. A large area of application is harsh working environments, such as factory halls, production rooms or workshops, as the fanless computers are less susceptible to dust or similar. They can also be installed, for example, in rooms, walls or in the open air, where it can be a little colder than usual, but the PCs must not let you down. Not to mention in open-plan offices, where every little noise minimization is a blessing for the employees, the passively cooled PC systems are a welcome sight.
If you value increased durability and robustness of your product, we recommend spending a little more money and opting for a passively cooled solution. However, if you don’t want to compromise on the performance and size of your Mini PC, classic active cooling is also the best option.
The term HDD stands for “hard disk drive”. Literally translated, this means “hard disk drive”, but for the sake of simplicity it is often referred to as a hard disk. An HDD consists of many individual mechanical parts. During the storage process, the data is written to the surface of one or more rotating magnetic disks. A read head moves back and forth – similar to a record player.
Hard disks have been around since the 1950s and are still often installed as a standard storage medium in PCs today. This has changed with the advent of SSDs. In the early days, these were still extremely expensive and were only used for very special applications. In the meantime, however, they have become much more affordable and are increasingly being used for private purposes due to their advantages.
The term SSD stands for “Solid State Disk” or “Solid State Drive” and is referred to as a semiconductor drive or solid-state drive. An SSD is not a mechanical but an electronic storage device. Instead of rotating disks, semiconductor components from solid-state physics are used. This type of memory is also used in USB sticks.
Probably the best known advantage is that an SSD boots and works much faster because it works electronically and does not have to constantly move a read head back and forth. Although it is faster, the SSD also has a significantly lower energy consumption than a conventional hard disk. If you want your PC to run completely silently and therefore choose a passively cooled system, you should also opt for an SSD. Thanks to the absence of moving parts, it operates completely silently.
But that’s not all: it is also much more robust, as the mechanical disks of an HDD break very easily when dropped. It can also withstand an extended temperature range. Thanks to its robustness, the SSD can continue to run even if it is shaken: Hard disks often have a protective mechanism that causes them to stop working as soon as the running PC is moved. For example, if you carry your laptop around or if a PC is installed in a vehicle, as is often the case with our MOVE series. To prevent the read head from hitting the disks, the HDD stops its operation immediately as a precaution. This cannot happen with an SSD. As it does not contain any moving parts, it also works without any problems in such cases.
The abbreviation BIOS stands for “Basic Input/Output System”. It is the firmware of a PC – software that is permanently built into the hardware. The BIOS is stored on a small chip in the computer’s mainboard and is always pre-installed. Some mainboards have a second chip that acts as a backup. The BIOS forms the link between software (operating system) and hardware components such as hard disks, keyboard, mouse and printer. The BIOS can only be operated via the keyboard.
The successor to the BIOS is UEFI, which stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, i.e. a standardized extensible firmware interface. UEFI looks like an operating system, but – unlike BIOS – can be operated with the mouse and is able to run programs.
The main tasks of the BIOS are a self-test and the initialization of the hardware as well as the communication between the operating system and other components. When a computer is switched on, the BIOS starts up immediately and prepares the PC for booting. The power-on self-test (POST) is carried out first. The computer checks one after the other whether the basic hardware components, such as CPU and RAM, are working. If errors are detected, the BIOS indicates this with special tones or, if the graphics have already been successfully checked, on the screen.
After this self-test, it’s time to boot. To do this, the hardware must know from which component the operating system is to be started. The BIOS therefore searches the available drives (hard disks, USB, DVD) in a specific order according to the operating system. As soon as it finds a software, the PC is started automatically. The order of the drives on which the operating system is searched for can be defined in the BIOS as required. For example, if you want to delete the existing operating system and install a new one via DVD, it is necessary to set the DVD drive to the first position. Other BIOS tasks include managing the date and time and monitoring the temperature of the processor and mainboard.
To access the BIOS, a specific key must be pressed immediately after switching on the PC and before starting the operating system (several times in succession!). Which button it is differs depending on the manufacturer. As a rule – and also with all spo-books – you can access the BIOS by pressing the “F2” or “Del” key.
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